Kelly Clarkson worked numerous odd jobs during and after high school

Kelly Clarkson worked numerous odd jobs during and after high school, such as mowing lawns, helping her contractor stepfather build porches, and working in a movie theater starting at age sixteen and until Clarkson moved to LA.

Kelly Clarkson also worked for Papa John's, Subway, 6 Flags Over Texas, Starbucks, and sold vacuums door to door (her latter experience which she described with a well-intended pun: "It sucked.").

Kelly Clarkson - School and Sing

Family of Kely Clarkson struggled financially, and music became Clarkson's refuge after the 1st divorce. She attended Pauline G Hughes Middle School and Burleson High School, originally aiming to become a marine biologist.

In 7th grade, a teacher (Mrs. Cynthia Glenn) overheard Clarkson's singing in a hallway and asked Clarkson to audition for the school choir. She told the teacher that Clarkson had never received professional vocal training.

In high school, Kelly Clarkson performed in musicals such as Annie Get Your Gun, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Brigadoon. Around this time, she decided to pursue singing. Clarkson sang at her high school talent show, after which a gentleman shared some inspiring words with her: "God has given you this gift. You've got to sing. You're destined to sing."

Kelly Clarkson did continue to sing and soon started classical training, hoping that music would be her ticket to a college scholarship.

Kelly Clarkson - Family and Early Life

Kelly Clarkson was born in FW /Fort Worth, Texas and grew up in the small town of Burleson, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. Kelly is the 3rd and youngest child of Jeanne Rose, a 1st grade teacher, and Stephen Michael Clarkson, a former engineer.

Kelly Clarkson is of part Greek ancestry. Her siblings include Clarkson's brother Jason, and Clarkson's sister Alyssa.

When she was 6 years old, Clarkson's parents split up after 17 years of marriage. As a result, Clarkson's brother went to live with Clarkson's father, Clarkson's sister went to live with an aunt, and she remained with Clarkson's mother.

She frequently moved around Texas while Kelly's mother managed several professions in order to support the family. The family settled in Burleson, where Kellys's mother married her 2nd husband, Jimmy Taylor.

Kelly Brianne Clarkson

Kelly Clarkson with birth name Kelly Brianne Clarkson was born on April 24, 1982 in Fort Worth, Texas. She is an American Pop rock singer, songwriter, and occasional actress.

Kelly Clarkson made her debut under RCA Records after Clarkson won the highly-publicized 1st season of the tv series American Idol in 2002.

Clarkson was originally marketed as a pop musician with her debut album Thankful (2003). With the release of her multi-platinum 2nd album, Breakaway (2004), She moved to a more pop rock–oriented style of music.

Kelly Clarkson's 3rd album, entitled My December, was released on June 26, 2007. Clarkson has sold over 17 million albums worldwide. She has had 9 of her singles becoming Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 2008, Kelly Clarkson joined VH1's list of 10 s_xiest women of the new millennium at #8. Clarkson also hit #28 on Vh1's Top 30 Hottest Rock Front Women. As of 2008 she is one of the 10 most played artists on adult contemporary radio.

Her 4th album titled All I Ever Wanted is due out on March 10, 2009. On January 28, 2009, it was announced that her latest single, "My Life Would Suck Without You", had advanced to No. 1 on the Hot 100, breaking the record for the largest leap to the position in chart history.