Kelly Clarkson was born April 24, 1982, in Burleson, Texas. The teenage
Kelly had originally intended to become a marine biologist, but her
choir teacher encouraged her to join the school choir. From there she
starred in school plays and began serious work on a demo with intentions
of pursuing a musical career. As with most aspiring artists, Kelly had
little luck finding a doorway into the business. It was then that her
best friend convinced her to try out for the American Idol in its
inaugural year. The rest is history, and Kelly won the competition,
becoming the first American Idol champion in 2002. Since then, Kelly has
been extremely busy, starting with her debut album, "Thankful," which
was followed by her 2004 album "Breakaway." Kelly Clarkson has since
proven that she is no flash-in-the-pan television star.
