April 24th, 2007 - Happy Birthday Kelly Clarkson!

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Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American singer-songwriter and actress who has enjoyed success in the pop and rock music genres.


She's 25!


Clarkson made her debut under RCA Records after she won the highly publicized first season of the television series American Idol in 2002. She was originally marketed as a pop musician with her debut album Thankful (2003). With the release of her multi-platinum sophomore album Breakaway (2004), Clarkson moved to a more pop rock-oriented style of music, and won two Grammy Awards. Clarkson's new album, entitled My December, is scheduled to be released in mid-2007.

Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in the small town of Burleson, Texas. She is the third and youngest child of Jeanne Ann Rose, a first grade teacher who is of Greek and Irish descent, and Stephen Michael Clarkson, a former engineer who is of Welsh extraction. Clarkson's siblings include her brother Jason, and her sister Alyssa. When Clarkson was six years old, her parents split up after seventeen years of marriage. As a result, her brother went to live with her father, her sister went to live with an aunt, and Clarkson remained with her mother.

Clarkson frequently moved around Texas while her mother managed several professions in order to support the family. Clarkson has since stated that, being six years old at the time, she did not understand why her family had been constantly moving. Eventually, the family settled in Burleson, where Clarkson's mother married her second husband, Jimmy Taylor.

Clarkson attended Fulton Middle School and Burleson High School. She originally wanted to become a marine biologist. In seventh grade, a teacher overheard her singing in a hallway and asked her to audition for the school choir. Clarkson told the teacher that she had never received professional vocal training before. In high school, Clarkson performed in musicals such as Brigadoon.

Upon graduation in 2000, Clarkson worked several occupations to finance her demo CD that she hoped to market toward record labels. She received few responses, and eventually decided to move to Hollywood to seek out other opportunities in music, one of which was a mentorship under songwriter Gerry Goffin. However, Goffin fell ill, and to make ends meet, Clarkson appeared as an extra on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and That '70s Show among others. She played a small role in the 2002 film Issues 101. Following four months in Hollywood, Clarkson was discouraged when her apartment burnt down and decided to return to Texas, where she worked at a cinema, and as a cocktail waitress, Six Flags performer, telemarketer, Kirby Vacuum salesperson, and a Red Bull promoter.

A Bit of Trivia:

• Clarkson's name has been mentioned in two songs: The Jonas Brothers' remake of Busted's "Year 3000" and the remix of "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse featuring Ghostface Killah.

• In the 2005 film The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Steve Carell's character screams out "Aaaahh! Kelly Clarkson!" after getting his chest waxed. This line was not scripted, but was featured in the film and its theatrical trailer.

• Clarkson performed "What Hurts the Most", with Rascal Flatts, at ACM Awards in 2006 and will return again to sing a duet with Reba McEntire in 2007. This is her second performance on a country music award show, even though she is in the Pop/Rock genre.

Other April 24th Birthdays:

Shirley MacLaine-Actress -73
Barbra Steisand-Actress/Singer -65
Eric Bogosian-Actor -54
Michael O'Keefe-Actor -52
Cedric the Entertainer-Actor/Comedian -43
Djimon Hounsou-Actor -43
Melinda Clarke-Actress/The O.C. -38
Eric Balfour-Actor/Conviction -30