Since taking home the crown as the very first American Idol winner in 2002, Kelly Clarkson
has been captivating the hearts of fans everywhere with her undeniable talent, catchy hits, quick
wit, Southern charm, and no-nonsense attitude.
The songstress has built a wildly successful career spanning more than a decade with chart-topping
hit songs, and she's showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
From her evolving sound to her evolving look, Clarkson is a star to be admired for her ability
to remain super down-to-earth despite her mega-fame.
Here's a look at the stunning transformation of the original American Idol.
A small town girl
A real-deal small town girl, the original American Idol superstar was born on April
24th, 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas.
In a 2017 interview with The Chicago Tribune, Clarkson described how her small town roots
have helped her to cope with the pressure of fame, like not being able to go anywhere
without somebody recognizing her.
"[I'm] from a small town… where everybody knows you and you can't keep anything secret.
I think [that has] helped me wrap my head around [fame]."
In a 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Clarkson revealed that the song that made
her want to pursue a career in music was her future mother-in-law Reba McEntire's "Read
My Mind."
"Growing up, my mom [was] a single parent; it was just a really hard life.
It was really great, but really hard.
When I was a kid, for whatever reason, [McEntire's] voice sounded like home."
Thanks, Alanis!
In a 2011 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Clarkson was asked to name a song that makes
her want to "turn up the radio."
Her answer?
"Anything from Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette."
According to Clarkson, her conservative family barred her from listening to Morrisette, a
female rocker known for her provocative, angst-ridden lyrics.
But this gal isn't one to follow the rules.
It's a good thing Clarkson decided to go against her family's wishes and listen to Morrisette,
because she now credits the Canadian-born songstress as helping Clarkson become the
songwriter she is today.
The songstress told Entertainment Weekly, "Alanis took it way past the line of what
women talk about in songs, how you sing a song.
It was so dirty and raw!
It made me a better writer.
It made me a better singer."
Where do I sign?
Kelly Clarkson may be famous for being the original reality singing competition star,
but according to the star herself, she didn't know what she was getting herself into.
In a February 2018 appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Clarkson dished that
she had no clue what she was signing up for when she decided to audition for American
Idol.
"Like literally, I was one of those people who was like, 'Where do I sign?'
I had no idea it was a TV show.”
Luckily for Clarkson, her run on the singing competition ended in the best way possible.
The former small-town Texas gal was voted in as the very first American Idol in September
2002, kicking off a wildly successful career.
From Justin to Kelly to… embarrassment?
Kelly Clarkson's American Idol win certainly kick-started her career, but according the
star herself, she didn't actually want to win.
While being the very first American Idol is definitely an accomplishment any aspiring
singer would probably love to add to their resume, Clarkson had one particular reason
to prefer second place, the first place winner was required to star in a movie.
"And I was like, 'I don't wanna win, I don't wanna win.'
Because we just had found that out we had to do a movie.
And we just found that out, top two."
Of course, Clarkson did end up winning the show and starring in the box office bomb From
Justin to Kelly, a film Clarkson has sworn to never tell her children about.
Clarkson told TIME, quote : "I just want it to go away."
The one good thing to come out of From Justin to Kelly?
Clarkson's highlighted, layered bob that gave us total early-2000s hair envy!
First comes love, then comes baby
Not many people know that Kelly Clarkson waited six years to start dating her husband to-be,
Brandon Blackstock, after meeting him for the first time in 2006.
At a SiriusXM show in 2017, Clarkson explained to the crowd that, although she felt an undeniable
attraction to then-married Blackstock, she isn't the type of girl to intrude on someone
else's marriage.
Though the pair first crossed paths in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country
Music Awards, it wasn't until 2012 — after Blackstock and his wife had divorced — that
she made a move.
Blackstock and Clarkson got engaged in December 2012 and married the following October, making
Clarkson a stepmom to Blackstock's two children, Savannah and Seth.
In June 2014, Clarkson gave birth to the couple's first child together, daughter River Rose.
Nearly two years later in April 2016, the couple welcomed son Remington Alexander to
the family.
No time for haters
In 2017, Clarkson was praised for her response to a mean-spirited Twitter user who took to
the social media platform to call the singer fat.
Clarkson's quick-witted response?
"And I'm still f***ing awesome."
Though society may associate skinniness with happiness, Clarkson sees it the other way
around.
According to the singer, she's usually happier when she's sporting a few extra pounds.
Clarkson told Redbook,
"People think, 'Oh, there's something wrong with her.
She's putting on weight.’
I'm like, 'Oh, no!
I'm sorry, but that represents happiness in my emotional world.’
For me, when I'm skinny is usually when I'm not doing well."
A stunning slim down
When Kelly Clarkson walked the red carpets looking noticeably slimmer in early 2018,
fans were dying to know the secret to her impressive, healthy figure.
During a 2018 press conference for The Voice, Clarkson jokingly revealed the secret to her
weight loss: "I have to shout out my whole glam squad.
I literally hired Harry Potter and SPANX.”
All jokes aside, Clarkson dished to Access Hollywood the real reason for her dramatic
37-pound weight loss, a book!
"And it was called 'The Plant Paradox' and it's not just about food, it's about, you
know how you treat your body as far as medicines and everything.”
Return to Reality TV
In May 2017, we learned that Kelly Clarkson would be making her return to her television
roots as a judge on a popular reality television singing competition.
And while American Idol had recently announced its return to TV, Clarkson wouldn't be joining
the show that kick-started her career for its reboot.
Instead, Clarkson joined the judges' panel on the hit NBC series, The Voice.
Many people wondered why Clarkson would choose The Voice over the show that started it all
for her.
Clarkson's reasoning was simple and totally understandable, she wanted to be with her
family.
Since her husband Brandon Blackstock manages Blake Shelton, a fellow judge on The Voice,
Clarkson told Entertainment Weekly that she usually found herself on-set with her husband
and children anyway.
Considering Clarkson's team won the competition during her first season as a judge on The
Voice, it seems the original American Idol winner hasn't lost touch with her singing
competition roots.