kelly clarkson

The first single, Miss Independent, was a success, hitting #1 in the US Weekly Top 40. Further singles Low and The Trouble With Love Is were released but didn’t not replicate the same success as Miss Independent.

Her second studio album, Breakaway, debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and also at #3 in the UK album charts. It is her biggest selling album to date, selling over 6 million copies in the US and 13 million worldwide, making it also the most successful Idol album ever. The first single in the US, Breakaway, peaked at #6 in the Billboard Hot 100 and when released in the UK chart as the fifth single, it reached a respectable #22. Arguably her biggest single from the album, Since U Been Gone, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #5 on the UK singles chart, marking the beginning of a successful worldwide music career. Behind These Hazel Eyes was the next single, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 in the UK chart. Because Of You was then released, to huge sucess hitting #1 in 5 countries, peaking at #7 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and UK singles chart. Clarkson’s final single, Walk Away, peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #21 on the UK singles chart. The album was certified multi-platinum in over 7 countries, going 7x Platinum in Ireland, 6x Platinum in the US and Austrailia and 5x Platinum in the UK and Canada.

Clarkson’s third album, entitled My December, was a more personal album, and although it didn’t bring as much success as Breakaway, or wasn’t as ‘radio-friendly’, fans often refer to it as her best album, peaking at #2 on the US and UK album charts. Her first single, Never Again, was released worldwide and reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the UK singles chart. She then released Sober in America, which didn’t do so well, peaking at #10 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100, One Minute in Austrailia, peaking at #36 on the Austrailian singles chart, and releasing her final single from the album Don’t Waste Your Time which peaked at #14 on the Austrailian singles chart. My December was certified Platinum in the US, Austrailia and Canada and Gold in the UK and Ireland.

Clarkson’s fourth album titled All I Ever Wanted was released on March 10, 2009, receiving favourable reviews from American and British critics alike. It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. Her single, My Life Would Suck Without You, advanced from #97 to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its first week of release, breaking the record for the largest leap to the position in chart history. Clarkson also reached #1 in the UK charts, making it her first #1 there, and the only Idol winner to have acheived a #1 single there to date. Her second single from the album, I Do Not Hook Up, wasn’t as successful peaking at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #36 on the UK singles chart, even after all the promotion. The third single from the album, Already Gone, was released on 11th August 2009 in America and the 21st in Austrailia. It has so far peaked at #12 in Austrailia, #19 in Canada, #23 in New Zealand, #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #66 in the UK. All I Ever Wanted has done reasonably well worldwide, charting at #1 in the US, #2 in Austrailia and Canada, #3 in the UK and #6 in New Zealand, selling over 1.2 million copies worldwide so far.

According to Sony Music, Clarkson has sold nearly 20 million albums worldwide. Clarkson has had eight of her singles become Top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Her first three albums sold over 9.5 million copies in the United States. As of 2008 she is one of the 10 most played artists on adult contemporary radio. Clarkson has sold over 10.2 million albums in the United States, and over 20 million albums worldwide, becoming the highest-selling Idol winner. According to Nielsen SoundScan, Clarkson is also ranked on the top 200 album sellers of the Nielsen SoundScan era at number 187.