Kelly Clarkson on 'American Idol': What helped the first 'Idol' winner succeed?
Clarkson returned to 'Idol' to serve as a guest judge and her performance won widespread praise. Not every 'Idol' champion has sold as many albums as Clarkson has 鈥� what led to her success?
Clarkson returned to 'Idol' to serve as a guest judge and her performance won widespread praise. Not every 'Idol' champion has sold as many albums as Clarkson has 鈥� what led to her success?
The newest episode of 鈥淎merican Idol鈥� featured the return of a familiar face.
Kelly Clarkson, who won the first season of 鈥淚dol鈥� and has gone on to be one of the program鈥檚 highest-selling alumni, served as a guest judge on the Feb. 25 episode and also performed her song 鈥淧iece by Piece.鈥澛�
Her performance was positively received by the show鈥檚 judges (Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick, Jr.), who gave her a standing ovation, as well as by critics.聽
鈥淐larkson [brought] the house down,鈥� Minneapolis Star Tribune reporter Randy Salas wrote, while Hollywood Reporter writer Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya wrote that Ms. Clarkson鈥檚 rendition was 鈥減owerful.鈥澛�
Mr. Urban also took to Twitter to compliment Clarkson.聽
Fox鈥檚 music competition show, which is airing its final season this year after 14 seasons and industry-dominating ratings, has launched the careers of several major stars. While rivals such as NBC鈥檚 鈥淭he Voice鈥� is doing well in the ratings, 鈥淰oice鈥� has yet to name a winner that comes close to the selling power of Clarkson or fellow "Idol" champion Carrie Underwood.聽
How did Clarkson, the first-ever winner of 鈥淚dol,鈥� succeed in the industry?
One aspect that has appealed to fans may be Clarkson鈥檚 seeming authenticity. The singer previously battled with her record company, with Clarkson fighting for the right to include certain darker tracks on the 2007 album "My December."
鈥淭he drama, however, has been key to securing the loyalty of the global fanbase,鈥� Guardian writer Alex Macpherson wrote. 鈥淗er fight not to be moulded is now a key part of her public persona.鈥澛�
And two aspects of her career 鈥� her voice and some of her collaborations 鈥� may have secured her success as well.聽
New York Times writer Jon Pareles wrote of Clarkson鈥檚 2015 album 鈥淧iece by Piece,鈥� 鈥淭he versatile voice that made Ms. Clarkson the first winner of 鈥楢merican Idol鈥� can sail through just about any arrangement,鈥� while Jamieson Cox of Billboard wrote that Clarkson鈥檚 music has 鈥渁lways has been characterized by her vocal strength and versatility 鈥� few bells and whistles are needed to convey just how powerful her instrument can be.鈥�
As for some of her collaborators, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone praised the work of Max Martin, who co-wrote such songs as Clarkson鈥檚 鈥淪ince U Been Gone鈥� as well as various hits including Britney Spears' "...Baby One More Time." "She has made brilliant singles, and may yet record a great album," Mr. Rosen wrote of Clarkson's 2009 album "All I Ever Wanted." "It's no mystery how to start. Three words: more Max Martin."聽
Meanwhile,聽Rolling Stone writer Chuck Arnold wrote of her 2015 work 鈥淧iece,鈥� 鈥淎nother highlight, 鈥業nvincible鈥欌�� is a triumphant power ballad co-written by go-to pop-diva tunesmith Sia.鈥�