Kelly Clarkson has had an amazing year. And furthermore, an amazing 5 years. To be 24 and already have two multiplatinum albums, and have been on 4 sold out tours is something any budding artist would envy. But with her most recent album, Breakaway, that has now been certified 4 times platinum, Clarkson has not only conquered the American public, but now the critics as well. Music critics, who with her first album said that she was very talented but that Thankful was her 15 minutes of fame, are now put to shame now that her second LP. Breakaway has not only sold almost twice the amount of records than her first album, but has garnered much critical acclaim.
On December 5, Breakaway achieved a 52 week run in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 Chart. She's one of only four artists in Sound Scan history to debut in the Top 20 and stay there for a year straight, and is the first artist in over 5 years to accomplish this.
"Breakaway" is quadruple-platinum in Australia, triple-platinum in Canada, double-platinum in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, and platinum in Ireland, South Africa, Singapore and Indonesia.
The album's first four singles have all reached No. 1 in America. The title song, "Breakaway," was the first hit, followed by "Since U Been Gone," "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Because of You." Radio cannot get enough of Kelly Clarkson. The singles from "Breakaway" already account for 2.5 million digital downloads sold.
Kelly has two MTV Latin Awards nominations, for Best International Artist and Best International Pop Artist. She also had a staggering 12 nominations for the Billboard Music Awards, including Hot 100 Artist of the Year, Hot 100 Female Artist, Pop 100 Artist of the Year, Pop 100 Female Artist, Pop 100 Single ("Since U Been Gone"), Pop 100 Airplay Single ("Since U Been Gone"), The Billboard 200 Female Artist, Hot Digital Track Artist, Hot Digital Track ("Since U Been Gone"), Hot Dance Radio Airplay Artist, Adult Top 40 Artist and Top Soundtrack Single ("Breakaway"). Kelly also has five nominations for the Radio Music Awards, including Artist of the Year, Adult Hit Radio; Artist of the Year, Mainstream Hit Radio; Song of the Year, Adult Hit Radio ("Breakaway"); Song of the Year, Mainstream Hit Radio ("Behind These Hazel Eyes") and Song of the Year, Mainstream Hit Radio ("Since U Been Gone"). Looking ahead to 2006, Kelly has been nominated as Favorite Female Performer for the People's Choice Awards. And has been nominated for two Grammy awards: Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Kelly Clarkson has really begun to make her mark on Pop Music, and after four Number One singles on the Top 40 charts including a record-tiyng 21 week run at Number One on the Adult Contemporary Charts for her title track "Breakaway". Her next single, set to be released to radio January 17, "Walk Away", is already getting loads of radio spins. Looks like she's got her 5th number one in the works--and maybe another year in the top 20.
Don't forget us little people, Kelly, when your album sells 8 million.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Audrey
I'm so happy to finally see Kelly get so much success (commercially and critically). I just hope they don't rob her come Grammy time (even though she was already robbed with only getting TWO nominations).
2 - reggie von woic
I never liked the picture on the cover of her album.
3 - Augusten
I'm so happy for her, she's doing so great.
4 - reggie von woic
It makes me sick that fresh musicians can just take up all the attention in an instant.
Bah!!
She's good, but not a "queen" of anything.
5 - Chris Evans
Lighten up..
It was just in reference to how she dominated the charts for the past year.
6 - Aundrea
I'm really disappointed she didn't win anything at the Billboard Awards. She was nominated for TWELVE Awards and didn't win a single won. It's ridiculous, really. Mariah's winning everything and she really needs to stop. Yes, you have a great voice, but your music is so generic and unoriginal now--a great voice isn't enough anymore.
Kelly is exactly what pop music needs right now. After all the Hilary Duffs and Ashlee Simpsons and Avril Lavignes, FINALLY an artist who has good music AND can sing her ass off.
7 - Mal Breda
Everytime I hear criticism of Kelly Clarksons music I shake my head and wonder "what were they thinking when they said that"? Its impossible to attack the genious of Clarksons devine vocal gifts with any credibility - although myopic snobs and gadfly elitists will inevitably do it - for a little while longer. You couldn't find another singer with her skills with a Billion Dollar Prize. Shes simply one of the best ever. Shes was beyond American Idol before she won the title - today shes on top of the entire music world. Music genres are her fingers and toes. She's real. She's fresh. She's magic. She's Kelly Clarkson and you can hide from her talent but you'll never escape it.
8 - Natalie Davis
Sounds like a threat: You. Will. Listen. To. KellyClarkson. And. You. Will. Love. It. Or. Else.
9 - Chris Evans
Of course. How could you not like Kelly?
Natalie I've missed you!!
10 - George Dionne
I was aprehesive of Kelly at first, but with her new album she's really won me over. And I'm a hard rock guy.
11 - No Longer On Welfare
Kelly Clarkson has a really nice booty. And I'm a hard *ock guy.
12 - Rene
This truly would have been Kelly's year had she not been overshadowed by Mariah's big "comeback of the year" story. I too think that Mariah is talented but she's not real whereas Kelly is.
Nevertheless, Kelly has/is experiencing a stellar year and I couldn't be happier for all of her extraordinary success this year.
13 - Chris Evans
Hopefully the Grammy people will give Kelly what she deserves this year. At least ONE award people. Come on now.
14 - Rene
I know Chris. She truly is deserved. I'm just worried that because Gwen and Mariah and some of the others are more "established" that it will go to one of them. Unfortunately, awards are sometimes handed out for the wrong reasons.
Kelly's time will come though if not this coming year. I've no doubt about our girl.
15 - reggie von woic
Well Chris, your wish came true....twice.
16 - Chris Evans
Woo! Yes it did.
17 - Ashley
she is a good girl and she sing very good don´t say bad things of her because you don´t now anything!!
fucking people!!
come on kelly!
i loove you!!
have you know something bad of her?
no!
you don´t!
it´s anything bad of her everything is nice!!
you don´t have to say things if you are not sure of that!!
wowww i love loves you mee!
kelly is very beautiful!!
i love her!
Ashley
18 - Kelly
Ashley things!
That´s good for me!
I feel very godd when the people said that!
I send you a kiss!
Bye bye!
19 - me and me and me and me
i love hiñary duff
noo that´s not truee!
kelly is better!
kisesss
20 - jessica
i will go to the concert of kelly this week here in new york!
i´m sure of that!
well....if I go will have a good day
To see kelly...well...that´s a good thing because i
´m very thanks if i see kelly so....
well....good nightªª
kelly is the best gays!
byeeee
21 - Lizzie
shee in her photos is beautiful!!
the first person that coment!
that´s not true!
for you!
kelly is very nice she sings very good!
she doesn´t have problems, for example, smoke, she doesn´t smoke!
for exaple!
she is not like lindsay lohan or britney spears that smoke all day!
I love Kelly!
Or not?
She is very beautiful!
Kisses!
Lizzie
22 - Lindsay Lohan
Why do the people have to say bad things of me
?
I´m Lindsay Lohan!
Ok?
Bye guys!
Lindsay
23 - Kelly Clarkson
i love you children of my heart!
Yeah!
im the best!
im beautiful!
Woww!
Bye!
24 - tony hawk
year here is tony hawk and kelly clarkson is the best!
25 - Shanelle
kelly clakson is so awsom she is so pretty but i think she looks better with long hair than short!!! but shes still the best!!