# Kelly Clarkson
**Kelly Clarkson** is an American pop singer, songwriter, and Emmy-winning television host who rose to fame as the winner of the first season of *American Idol* in 2002. Her total worldwide sales exceed 25 million albums and 40 million singles, and she has won multiple [Grammy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-awards), including best pop vocal album for *Breakaway*.[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) • [2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) • [3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/kelly-clarkson/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Breakthrough | Won the first season of *American Idol* in 2002 with "A Moment Like This," which became the highest-selling single of 2002[4](https://www.biography.com/musicians/kelly-clarkson-american-idol-journey) |
| Recorded output | Nine studio albums, one greatest-hits album, and two New York Times Top 10 bestselling children's books[2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) |
| Sales | More than 25 million albums and 40 million singles worldwide[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) • [2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) |
| Chart first | First artist to top each of Billboard's pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance charts[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) |
| Grammy Awards | Multiple Grammys, including best pop vocal album for *Breakaway*[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/kelly-clarkson/) |
| Television | Former host of the Emmy-winning *The Kelly Clarkson Show*; coach on *The Voice* (Seasons 20 and 23); co-host of the *American Song Contest*[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) • [5](https://www.nbc.com/the-voice/credits/contestant/season-23/kelly-clarkson) • [6](https://www.npr.org/artists/91208383/kelly-clarkson) |
| Hollywood recognition | Received the 2,733rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) |
## American Idol breakthrough
Clarkson's career began with her victory in the first-season finale of *American Idol* in 2002. Her tear-filled rendition of "A Moment Like This" delivered the win and a recording contract with RCA. The song was also her first chart-topper, becoming the highest-selling single of 2002.[4](https://www.biography.com/musicians/kelly-clarkson-american-idol-journey)
## Recordings and commercial performance
Clarkson has released nine studio albums and one greatest-hits album, and she has also published two children's books that reached the New York Times Top 10 bestseller list.[2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) Her recorded catalog has sold more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles worldwide.[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) • [2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson)
Her chart reach spans formats: she is the first artist to top each of Billboard's pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance charts.[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) Billboard characterizes her as a powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and daytime talk-show host.[3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/kelly-clarkson/)
## Television career
**The Kelly Clarkson Show.** Clarkson hosted the daytime talk show *The Kelly Clarkson Show*, which won [Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/emmy-awards) in 2020 and 2021 for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host and was picked up for a fourth season while still filming its third.[2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) She has won three consecutive [Daytime Emmy Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/daytime-emmy-awards) in that host category.[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) By the time she filmed Season 23 of *[The Voice](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-voice-american-tv-series)*, the talk show was in its fourth season and had already been renewed for its fifth and sixth seasons.[5](https://www.nbc.com/the-voice/credits/contestant/season-23/kelly-clarkson)
**Other television work.** She served as a coach on Season 20 and Season 23 of NBC's *The Voice*.[2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) • [5](https://www.nbc.com/the-voice/credits/contestant/season-23/kelly-clarkson) She also co-hosted the *American Song Contest* on NBC with [Snoop Dogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoop-dogg), a nationwide songwriting competition modeled after Eurovision.[6](https://www.npr.org/artists/91208383/kelly-clarkson)
## Honors and recognition
Clarkson's honors include multiple Grammy Awards, among them best pop vocal album for *[Breakaway](https://www.edgepedia.org/breakaway-kelly-clarkson-album)*; four [American Music Awards](https://www.edgepedia.org/american-music-awards); three consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host; and the 2,733rd star on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollywood-walk-of-fame).[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) • [2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson) • [3](https://www.billboard.com/artist/kelly-clarkson/)
## By the numbers
The scale of Clarkson's career can be summarized in a few figures: more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles sold worldwide; nine studio albums plus a greatest-hits collection; chart-topping success across four distinct Billboard formats, pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance; and three consecutive Daytime Emmy wins as a talk-show host, on top of multiple Grammys.[1](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/) • [2](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson)
## References
1. [Kelly Clarkson, Texas Commission on the Arts](https://www.arts.texas.gov/kelly-clarkson/)
2. [Kelly Clarkson: American Song Contest host, NBC.com](https://www.nbc.com/american-song-contest/credits/host/kelly-clarkson)
3. [Kelly Clarkson: Biography, Music & News, Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/artist/kelly-clarkson/)
4. [Kelly Clarkson: All The Ways 'American Idol' Changed Her Life, Biography.com](https://www.biography.com/musicians/kelly-clarkson-american-idol-journey)
5. [Kelly Clarkson, The Voice Season 23, NBC.com](https://www.nbc.com/the-voice/credits/contestant/season-23/kelly-clarkson)
6. [Kelly Clarkson, NPR](https://www.npr.org/artists/91208383/kelly-clarkson)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 2000s to present › Mainstream pop singers, 2000s–2010s › Surnames A to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license