Published: October 25, 2007 02:12 pm            

KELLY CLARKSON: Five things you might not have known

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

        

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