KELLY CLARKSON: Five things you might not have known

Music

Related Photos

Peter Kramer

October 25, 2007

By Kevin Purdy/purdyk@gnnewspaper.com The Niagara Gazette Thu Oct 25, 2007, 02:12 PM EDT

Five things you might not have known about ... Kelly Clarkson

1 It was a long, low-wage road to “American Idol:” Clarkson was acknowledged for her singing talents at a young age, but growing up with a single mother left no money for voice training. Instead, Clarkson mowed lawns, took movie tickets and held down jobs at Subway, Starbucks and Papa John’s — she later worked as a door-to-door vacuum cleaner saleswoman.

2 About that last album ... The short version of the story behind “My December” is that record label head Clive Davis asked Clarkson to make major revisions and nix some of its darker themes. Clarkson, however, refused to back down, leading to hasty release, a canceled tour and, so far, lower overall sales. On the flip side, the album has garnered slightly more positive reviews than any of her previous efforts.

3 Weird indie semi-credibility: It might be a stretch to say Clarkson is the most punk of the “Idol” set, but then again, maybe not. She’s actually compared “My December” in press interviews with Bruce Springsteen’s dark personal epic “Nebraska” — a stretch, but a nice show of rock knowledge — and declined to move to New York City or Los Angeles after her big “Idol” win, staying on a 60-acre farm with her brother. And “My December” even features a guest appearance by punk icon Mike Watt, whose work, it can be assumed, Sanjaya is not all that familiar with.

4 She’s an inspiration to STEVE CARELL: During the infamous chest-waxing scene in the hit comedy film “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Kelly Clarkson!” is one of the more intelligible ad-libbed — and G-rated — screams issued by Carell.

5 She might need a little inspiration herself: Just a few quotes from a recent interview with Elle magazine: “My point of view is that I shouldn’t be a mother at all, because I’d be horrible ... I’m not willing to be that selfless.” And: “I’ve sold more than 15 million records worldwide, and still nobody listens to what I have to say because I’m 25 and a woman.” Finally, heavy with sarcasm: “I am a good singer, so I can’t possibly be a good writer ... Women can’t possibly be good at two things.”

— Kevin Purdy

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Music

Baseball tune worthy of hall
As of this summer, the list of people in the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will grow by one.
It will then total one.
But that one person is wholly deserving of the dual accolades.

June 12, 2010 1 Photo
Local music impresses
I wasn't the first choice to be a judge in the Hard Rock Cafe Battle of the Bands. But that didn't make the experience any less fun.

May 22, 2010 1 Photo
Bieber wows kids, but can his act mature with him?
Justin Bieber impresses teenagers, but can he keep their interest as they - and he - age?

April 29, 2010 1 Photo
TSO embarks upon holiday-free music tour
The Trans-Siberian Orchestra finally will get a chance to showcase its nonholiday fare during a spring tour.

April 8, 2010 1 Photo
NT-based jam band Aqueous looks to ride the wave to musical stardom
Speaking during a recent interview in the News office, the members of Aqueous discussed the difficulties in achieving musical stardom and the downfall of much of modern music.

March 18, 2010
NIGHT & DAY: Flaming Lips bringing oddball antics to Artpark
The Lips will bring what’s sure to be an odd-looking playlist — among the band’s songs are “Free Radicals (A Hallucination of the Christmas Skeleton Pleading with a Suicide Bomber)” and “Psychiatric Explorations of the Fetus with Needles” — to Lewiston this summer for a dynamic and lavish stage show to Artpark on July 22. Tickets for the concert go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.

March 17, 2010 1 Photo
LIFESTYLE: TSO brings holiday magic back to Buffalo The Trans-Siberian Orchestra might have a name that implies chilly conditions, but the musical group has been red hot as of late.
December 28, 2009 1 Photo
MUSIC: Best of the Decade No industry changed more this decade than the music industry.
December 17, 2009 1 Photo
MUSIC: Solo pianist George Winston visits Buffalo At this rate, George Winston reckons he’ll be back in Buffalo, by, oh, 2022. So if you want to see him perform live, Friday night’s your chance.
December 3, 2009 1 Photo
MUSIC: The songs (and paintings) of Ron Hawkins A lot of things have changed since Ron Hawkins was on the stage at Gateway Harbor in North Tonawanda in 2006.
November 12, 2009 1 Photo
More Music Headlines

Music

Search Results

Related Photos

KELLY CLARKSON: Five things you might not have known

Site Map

Contact Us