Biography

Kelly Clarkson truly knows what it is like to grow up in a small town and have big dreams. The lyrics of her hit song “Breakaway” almost read like an autobiography. Kelly is a native of Burleson, Texas and although she remains true to her roots she has been able to “breakaway” over the past 3 years and accomplish some of wildest dreams. From a Grammy Nomination to an appearance on Saturday Night Live, the ride has been inedible and has only just begun. Embarking on her first ever Headlining tour, is fuilling yet another dream.“Nothing makes me happier than being out on the road,” says Clarkson. “I can't wait to see the fans and perform the new material. Playing in these small venues will be a great opportunity for me to connect with my die- hard fans in an intimate setting. I'm really excited and I know it's going to be awesome.”

Kelly burst onto the scene with an impressive list of songs. “A Moment Like This” which set the record for the biggest leap to the top in the history of the Hot 100 when it rocketed 52-1, followed by “Before Your Love,” “Miss Independent” which made her a 2004 Grammy nominee for Best Female Pop Vocal, “Low,” and “The Trouble with Love is.” Her first Album “Thankful” is certified double-platnum by the RIAA and her second RCA Records Label release, “Breakaway” has already surpassed her first in sales. The record is named after the mega radio hit “Breakaway” (No. 1 on all Top 40 radio outlets) and has spawned yet another series of #1 radio hits. Billboard Magazine’s review of her second single, “Since U Been Gone” read in part, “This is an utterly ideal showcase for Clarkson. There's glorious tempo, enough edge to rattle the speakers, a relentless, big-game hook -- and it's a huge leap forward for the entertainer as a more confident, ever-maturing vocalist.” Judging from her track record, Kelly’s latest release “Behind These Hazel Eyes” is set to make an impact.

“I had a lot of time to work on this album, and I had the past two years to write stuff. A lot of the songs on the album I wrote way before we went into the studio.” Kelly Clarkson is discussing her latest album, Breakaway, a record that is the next step in the singer’s artistic evolution. The album has more of a “rock” sound than her debut, an influence that had been eeping into Kelly’s music ever since her first major tour: “Even the songs from my first album that weren’t so ‘rock,’ I sang them in that style live, because it made them more fun to sing. So, this time, we ended up making more of a rock-pop album.”

Clarkson has writing edit on six songs on the new album, including “Because of You” and “Addicted,” which she collaborated on with Ben Moody and David Hodges, formerly of Evanescence. “The songs with David and Ben were the most fun to record,” she says, “because I was involved in every little thing, like sitting in on the string section. Ben and David are very opposite from each other, so each of us brought something different to the songs.

“When I tour, I sing live. And people like that I sing live. I’m not even iticizing anyone that doesn’t. But there are singers and there are entertainers, it’s very entertaining to go to a show with dancers and a big production, but my show isn’t that. When I’m sitting in an award show… there was a certain award show, I won’t say which one, but there were at least three performers, who didn’t sing live. I was like, I can understand how they sell records – I own some of their records! – I don’t think you have to be the best singer in the world. But for an awards show? When you’re celebrating music, and this was a show that should have had no lip synching. It was almost a slap in the face.”

But Kelly doesn’t spend much time mulling over what other people do; she’s always trying to improve her own skills… not just her singing, but her guitar playing. “There’s a difference between someone who could play guitar and a guitarist. I could play five or six of my songs on guitar. But there’s a difference between me and a guitarist, who can play around with a song and make it sound different. I’m really trying to work to be that. I really want to be good at it, and I think it will make me a better writer.” Judging by the songs she’s penned so far, she’s already a songwriter of note… but it’s typical of someone of her ambition to want to raise her game. Kelly Clarkson is living proof that if you want something bad enough, you can “Breakaway” and make your dreams come true.