Kelly Clarkson: Singer, American Idol Winner and Talk Show Host

Kelly Clarkson is an American singer, songwriter and television personality. She won the first season of American Idol in 2002 and is best known for the album Breakaway (2004), for coaching on The Voice (2018–2026) and for hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019–2026). Her latest release is the 2026 single “I’d Be Lyin’.”

Kelly Clarkson’s 2002 win on American Idol gave the singing competition its first champion. That win started a career of more than two decades that has moved from pop ballads to pop rock, Christmas music and daytime television.

Kelly Clarkson: key facts

Full name	Kelly Brianne Clarkson
Born	April 24, 1982, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
Age	44 (as of November 2026)
Occupation	Singer, songwriter, television host, actor
Years active	2002–present
Known for	American Idol (2002), Breakaway (2004), The Voice (2018–2026), The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019–2026)
Major awards	Three Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album (2013); nine Daytime Emmy Awards
Profiles	Wikipedia · IMDb

Kelly Clarkson’s music: from Idol ballads to pop rock

Kelly Clarkson began her recording career in 2002 after she signed with RCA Records. Her first single was the Idol song “A Moment Like This,” and it was the best-selling single of 2002 in the US. Her debut album, Thankful (2003), drew on R&B and gospel and opened at number one on the Billboard 200.

With Breakaway (2004), Clarkson moved to pop rock. “Since U Been Gone” and “Behind These Hazel Eyes” ranked among the top ten US songs of 2005, and “Because of You” reached number one in Europe. My December (2007) went toward darker rock and got a mixed response.

All I Ever Wanted (2009) and Stronger (2011) brought her back to radio pop. They gave her the number-one singles “My Life Would Suck Without You” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You).”

Kelly Clarkson’s range: Christmas records, Vegas stages and new singles

Kelly Clarkson made her first holiday album, Wrapped in Red, in 2013. It was the best-selling holiday album of that year, and its song “Underneath the Tree” has become a modern Christmas standard. She followed it with Piece by Piece (2015), which reached number one, and then moved to Atlantic Records for Meaning of Life (2017), When Christmas Comes Around… (2021) and chemistry (2023).

The chemistry album led to her first Las Vegas residency, which played 14 nights between July 2023 and February 2024. Her second residency, Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, ran 24 shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace from July 11, 2025, to August 15, 2026. Her newest single, “I’d Be Lyin’,” came out on July 17, 2026.

Kelly Clarkson on television: The Voice and her talk show

Kelly Clarkson coached ten seasons of NBC’s The Voice between 2018 and 2026. Four of her contestants won, more than any other female coach in the show’s history. From 2019 to 2026 she hosted the daytime series The Kelly Clarkson Show. Its “Kellyoke” segment, in which she sings a cover song, later became a covers EP.

Kelly Clarkson’s selected screen credits

Year	Title	Role	Type
2019–2026	The Kelly Clarkson Show	Herself	Host
2018–2026	The Voice	Coach	TV series
2005	Hot: The Hottest Hits from the Biggest Stars	Herself	Music video compilation
2003	From Justin to Kelly	—	Film
2002	American Idol (season 1)	Contestant, winner	TV series

Kelly Clarkson awards and recognition

• 2022 – Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She received the star the same year as her second talk show Emmy.
• 2022 – Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment. The award went to The Kelly Clarkson Show.
• 2021 – Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment. This was the first time The Kelly Clarkson Show won the category.
• 2020 – Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host. She won it for the first season of her talk show.
• 2013 – Grammy Award, Best Pop Vocal Album. This is one of her three Grammy wins.

FAQ

– What is Kelly Clarkson’s biggest hit?

Kelly Clarkson’s best-known hits include “Since U Been Gone” (2004), “Because of You” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” (2011). Her debut single, “A Moment Like This,” was the best-selling US single of 2002.

– How good is Kelly Clarkson at singing?

Kelly Clarkson is widely seen as a vocal powerhouse. Rolling Stone placed her on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.

– How old is Kelly Clarkson?

Kelly Clarkson was born on April 24, 1982, in Fort Worth, Texas. She is 44 years old (as of November 2026).

– Is The Kelly Clarkson Show still on?

The Kelly Clarkson Show ran from 2019 to 2026. As of November 2026, Kelly Clarkson’s newest work is the single “I’d Be Lyin'” from July 2026.

Header photo: Stephen Schester/Carlin Leslie / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain, resized