Kelly Clarkson’s Controversial Parenting, Life, and Her Climb to Fame

Kelly Clarkson became incredibly famous when she was crowned the very first winner of American Idol in 2002. What makes the singer’s celebrity status even more significant is that it happened pretty much overnight. With Kelly suddenly in the public eye, we all got front-row seats to her evolving life story. We think it’s safe to say that we really didn’t see some of these twists and turns coming…

Kelly was born in Texas on April 24th, 1982. When she was just six years old, Clarkson’s parents split up, essentially separating the singer from her two siblings as she was the only one to stay with her mother. Kelly’s father dropped out of her life at that point and their attempts to reconnect were, sadly, unsuccessful. Kelly explained that the distance is amicable, “It’s OK. That’s not a hateful situation. You go your own way.”

Believe it or not, Kelly’s first career choice was to work as a marine biologist. However, after seeing the movie Jaws, she decided to try singing instead. Clarkson’s music career was encouraged by attendees at her high school talent show, alongside the fact that she was offered scholarships from three different music colleges. However, she declined all the offers. "I'd already written so much music and wanted to try a career on my own. You're never too old to go to college ."

Kelly began working minimum wage jobs while trying to get a record deal. Eventually, Clarkson caught a break, as both Jive Records and Interscope Records expressed interest in her. However, Kelly believed that both companies wanted her to fit in with the other pop stars they were representing at the time, so she decided to continue on her own. "They would have completely pigeonholed me as a bubblegum act. I was confident enough that something better would come along."

Even someone as confident and ambitious as Kelly Clarkson has their breaking point — and the singer reached hers when her home burnt down and she became homeless in LA. Kelly was sleeping in her car, still getting rejected by record labels, had lost all her belongings, and spent all her money. So, Clarkson returned home to Texas, admitting defeat. Of course, back in Hollywood, the very first season of American Idol was starting to kick off and producers were looking for talent.