I've dabbled in modeling all my life

Because of 'American Idol?'

Original winner Clarkson continues to outshine rest

To borrow from one of her recent hits, would Kelly Clarkson's career suck without "American Idol?"

There's no doubt Clarkson's breakout success was a direct product of her being the first winner of the "American Idol" franchise in 2002. But considering the diminishing returns for subsequent "Idol" winners - whatever happened to Ruben Studdard? - Clarkson's continuing presence on the charts suggests she's got some staying power.

Her four albums have yielded more than 10 million album sales in the U.S. and some 20 million around the globe - the best stats of any "Idol" singer.

Clarkson, who is making a stop at the Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort this weekend, is touring behind her fourth album, "All I Ever Wanted," which features the hit singles "My Life Would Suck Without You" and the Katy Perry-penned "I Do Not Hook Up."

The new record is in line with her radio-friendly second release, "Breakaway," which helped establish Clarkson as a pop-rock force via major hits such as "Since U Been Gone" and the ballad "Because of You." Her third release, "My December," was Clarkson's bid to stake her own creative turf, but it didn't click so much with her audience.

Her current show emphasizes the hits, as well as some interesting covers - Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" was a mainstay this summer - and some riskier artistic choices, including an acoustic take on "Behind These Hazel Eyes."

"Clarkson proved once again that she's easily the cream of the American Idol alumni crop," writes Joy Tipping in The Dallas Morning News, of a performance last month. "If she's into it, she can pull off just about any genre of music with mature style and soaring vocals."

Clarkson also has shown a willingness to speak her mind, whether it's talking openly about her struggles with her record label or commenting - via a recent blog post - on Kanye West's controversial disruption of Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards.

"What happened to you as a child?? Did you not get hugged enough??" Clarkson wrote in an open letter to West. "Something must have happened to make you this way and I think we're all just curious as to what would make a grown man go on national television and make a talented artist, let alone teenager, feel like s--t."

All of this suggests the possibility of Clarkson building a career that will endure beyond the shelf life of other "Idol" winners, or even the show itself. But whether she's earned diva status, as her inclusion in a recent VH1 special trumpets, is another story.

Clarkson was one of the headliners for VH1's revival of its "Divas" concert, featuring up-and-coming stars such as Jordin Sparks, Adele and Miley Cyrus paired with veterans including Martina McBride, India Arie and Sheryl Crow.

Regarding her pairing with Melissa Etheridge, with whom she performed "Bring Me Some Water," Clarkson sounds a little star struck.

"Melissa Etheridge is so cool first off, but her voice is absolutely incredible!!" she wrote on her blog. "It was one of my favorite moments of the year…she's such a class act and rad as can be!"

Whether these young singers already are divas or will one day achieve that status, even Clarkson herself notes: "All the girls on the show are pretty much the opposite of 'diva.' They were way too nice and friendly and everyone was having a great time! We're all different but it made for a very eclectic and exciting show! "I was super proud to share the stage with such classy girls!"

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