Kelly Clarkson is the most successful winner of American Idol, according to Billboard.

The music publication reports that Clarkson, who won the first series of the show, has so far sold 10.6m albums, 15.9m singles and had 4.2m radio plays.

Country star Carrie Underwood, who won Idol’s fourth season in 2005, is the second most successful contestant.

Despite the ‘All-American Girl’ singer having sold more albums than Clarkson at 11.5m, her singles and radio spins are lower at 13.9m and 2.4m respectively.

Rounding out the top three is Chris Daughtry, whose band Daughtry has sold 5.7m albums. The singer-songwriter finished in fourth place on the programme’s fifth season.

Joe Jonas, one third of the teen pop sensation the Jonas Brothers, will be a guest judge during the audition rounds for American Idol’s upcoming ninth season, a source close to the show confirmed to EW.com this evening. The source said news is cloudier concerning published reports that season 1 Idol champ Kelly Clarkson will also join Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi at the judges’ table throughout the callback episodes filming in the next few weeks. It was previously announced that Shania Twain, Mary J. Blige, Katy Perry, and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham have all been tapped to fill the seat once occupied by Paula Abdul, who stepped away from the show earlier this month after a bitter public contract dispute.

Source: EW.com

Pop Tarts has learned that Season One winner Kelly Clarkson and a Jonas Brother will join forces at next week’s audition series as celeb judges to find the next singing sensation.
The move is quite a surprise on Clarkson’s behalf as she has spent the last several years working hard to separate herself from the reality program. But according to a source close to the Clarkson camp, she’s beyond excited to get back to the show that started it all.

Other celeb superstars joining Simon, Randy and Kara for Season 9 include Shania Twain, Jennifer Lopez, Victoria Beckham and Mary J Blige.

“At this stage it doesn’t look like Paula will be replaced by one person,” an insider told Tarts. “The celebrity judges are working really well for now.”

Source: Oh No They Didn’t

First off, welcome back Melissa! Thank you, I try =] I love Kelly Source too, and it’s great that you’re staying with us. Between the both of us, we still have a lot of work to be done.

Second, I was walking down the supermarket, and Kelly’s face was on the cover of Reader’s Digest. Not cover sadly, just the small box in the corner. I didn’t buy it, but I did check out the article online – which talks about Kelly, pre-stardom. Here’s an excerpt:

Q. On your fan sites, people talk about how you’re like a sister to them.
A. Everyone says I’m down-to-earth. It would be very hard for me to keep up any sort of celebrity persona. It’s just not me. I’m comfortable in my skin. I’m outspoken. I don’t know any other way to be.

I kind of don’t recall saying we’re like sisters to Kelly, but it’s great to know that she’s thinking about us! There’s also …

Q. You have taken your share of lumps, especially around your weight. Does it mean a lot to you to show girls that you don’t have to be skinny to be successful?
A. I recently gave a self-esteem workshop for Girl Scouts in Nashville, and I told the girls that I wasn’t a role model for my weight, because I change. Sometimes I’m thicker when I’m around my family and I’m eating more. Sometimes I’m thinner because I’m on the road and that takes a lot out of me. But I do feel it’s important to talk to girls about weight. They see these images, and there’s no way they’ll ever live up to them. I want them to see someone who is real and know they don’t have to live up to anything.

I think that’s the best way to say something about yourself. Being completely honest – and modest.

The article was just impressive. You can read the full article here. It’s the issue that’s in stores now – and if anyone gets a copy, we’d love some scans. Thanks guys ;]

"Life's too short to keep things inside," says Clarkson. "You've got to say what you feel."

So sorry guys for the late posts, but Kelly had something to say about ‘American Idol’.

“I gotta confess: Every time they have the show on, I’m either touring or in Europe,” she said. “So it’s like I never get to catch it. I only saw, like, one or two episodes. I honestly do not even know who is left.”

You can check out the rest of the article here.

I’ve also heard that Kelly did in fact perform then, so we’ll be sure to have some screencaptures!

American Idol Finale 2007

American Idol Finale 2007

Still getting pictures and videos uploaded! Check back at this postAmerican Idol Finale 2007 Video download:Never AgainBig Thanks to RJ for the videos!