Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, author, and television personality. She rose to fame for winning the first season of American Idol in 2002, which earned her a record deal with RCA. Her debut single, “A Moment Like This,” topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and became the country’s best-selling single of 2002. It was included on her pop and R&B debut album, Thankful (2003), which debuted atop the Billboard 200. Trying to reinvent her image, Clarkson parted ways with Idol management and shifted to pop-rock for her second studio album, Breakaway (2004).

Clarkson has sold over 25 million albums and 45 million singles worldwide. She has 11 top-ten singles in the US, and nine top-ten singles in the UK, Canada, and Australia. She became the first artist in history to top each of Billboard’s pop, adult contemporary, adult pop, country, and dance charts. Clarkson has served as a coach on The Voice since its fourteenth season, and since 2019, has hosted her own talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.