Kelly Clarkson is celebrating her 31st birthday today, and we’re proud to say that we’ve been card-carrying members of the KC fan club ever since she belted out the opening lines of “Natural Woman” during the Round of 8 on the first season of Idol. During the last 11(ish) years that she’s been on our radar, she has proven to be one of the most consistent fixtures of a very turbulent music industry, thanks to her powerhouse vocals, Southern charm and resilient demeanor. We’ve spent the last few days rummaging through the archives, looking back at her life and career, and put together the following gallery that honors the many facets of her tremendous personality that we’ve gotten to know over the years.
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KELLY CLARKSON AT DISNEY WORLD IN FLORIDA
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[Photo Credit: Getty Images, Splash News]