American Idol Season 1 winner and global superstar Kelly Clarkson has one more accomplishment to give herself a pat on the back for, 80 No. 1 hits on the Billboard charts. That means any of Clarkson’s albums or singles charted on any given list and hit No. 1 such as Top 200 Albums, Pop, Airplay, Hot 100, Adult Contemporary, etc. including recurrent charts.
Kelly’s current single “Catch My Breath” has earned its first No. 1 spot on the Hot Dance Club Play. Singles “Stronger” and “Dark Side” also hit No. 1 on this particular chart. “Catch My Breath” also moves up 2 spots on the Hot AC chart.
Clarkson is the only member of the Idol franchise to have such a feat of No. 1’s with Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood behind her at 65. Of all the No. 1’s Clarkson has scored, only 3 of those are Hot 100 songs, which tallies up airplay and digital downloads. Her inaugural song “A Moment Like This” cracked a record held by the Beatles for fastest jump to No. 1 on the Hot 100. She then repeated herself with 2009’s “My Life Would Suck Without You,” jumping from 97-1. In 2012, the empowering anthem “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” hit No. 1.
Her solid streak has earned the Idol franchise a total of 373 No. 1’s from former contestants. Last season’s winner Phillip Phillips has held on quite strong with his hit single “Home.” The song is still currently being used for advertising and currently sits at No. 10 on the Hot 100. His total from one album (having 4 weeks at No. 1 on Top Rock Albums) and one single comes to 8 No. 1’s on Billboard charts.
Kelly Clarkson just wrapped up a busy 2012. Having completed 3 tours, the singing reality show “Duets,” released a Greatest Hits along with her previous album “Stronger” going platinum, the songwriter finished the year off by getting engaged to talent manager and step-son to Reba McEntire, Brandon Blackstock.
Clarkson performed live for President Barack Obama’s inaugural ceremony January 21st where she sang “My Country (Tis of Thee).” This is the 2nd major encounter with the President. In 2006, she presented the then Senator with a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word for the audio book of “Dreams from My Father.” At that time, Clarkson joined several members of Congress for on behalf of the Recording Industry with their campaign “What’s The Download” to show the work put into recording an album and how piracy takes away from the work.
