| Kelly Clarkson was born in Fort Worth, Texas | | | | after the first divorce, but she didn't |
| and grew up in the small town of Burleson, | | | | embrace it as her salvation until her teens. |
| Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth. She is the | | | | Clarkson attended Pauline G Hughes Middle |
| third and youngest child of Jeanne Ann Rose, | | | | School and Burleson High School. She |
| a first grade teacher who is of Welsh and | | | | originally wanted to become a marine |
| Greek descent, and Stephen Michael Clarkson, | | | | biologist. In seventh grade, a teacher (Mrs. |
| a former engineer. Clarkson's siblings | | | | Cynthia Glenn) overheard her singing in a |
| include her brother Jason, and her sister | | | | hallway and asked her to audition for the |
| Alyssa. When Clarkson was six years old, her | | | | school choir. Clarkson told the teacher that |
| parents split up after seventeen years of | | | | she had never received professional vocal |
| marriage. As a result, her brother went to | | | | training. In high school, Clarkson performed |
| live with her father, her sister went to live | | | | in musicals such as Annie Get Your Gun, Seven |
| with an aunt, and Clarkson remained with her | | | | Brides for Seven Brothers and Brigadoon. It |
| mother. Clarkson frequently moved around | | | | was whilst at school that Clarkson first |
| Texas while her mother managed several | | | | decided to pursue singing. She sang at her |
| professions in order to support the family. | | | | high school talent show, after which a |
| The family settled in Burleson, where | | | | gentleman shared some inspiring words with |
| Clarkson's mother married her second husband, | | | | her: "God has given you this gift. You've got |
| Jimmy Taylor. | | | | to sing. You're destined to sing." Clarkson |
| | | | did continue to sing and soon started |
| While growing up, Clarkson's family had a | | | | classical training, since her family didn't |
| hard time financially and often argued about | | | | have much money and she hoped that music |
| money. From this experience, Clarkson learned | | | | would offer college scholarships.   |
| to be financially responsible and independent | | | | |
| at an early age. Music became her refuge | | | | Please visit for more infomation. |