Never before had a small town warbler’s transformation into humongous multinational singing sensation been witnessed in its entirety, from hopeful outset to triumphant victory. For blonde-streaked brunette Texan Kelly Clarkson, the mass attention and subsequent national adulation she won by belting out Aretha Franklin’s "Respect" and Carole King’s "Natural Woman" on the first season of American Idol came as an unadulterated blessing. The thrill of watching Kelly being catapulted into the celebrity sphere came from her unbridled excitement and joy. The girl was loving every moment of it, and we loved every inch of her cute face and curvy body. Thankfully Kelly made the transition to acting as most sexy pop stars do, which gave us better looks at her fantastic features. Her acting career began in 2002 with uncredited spots on That '80s Show and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, which, unsurprisingly, were lacking in skin. That same year she made her movie debut in the romantic drama Issues 101 (2002). Then, to milk her American Idol success, Kelly was paired with runner-up Justin Guarini for the musical From Justin to Kelly (2003). Although it won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst 'Musical' of Our First 25 Years, we wanted to blow raspberries on her pretty pierced stomach after seeing her in a two-piece bikini in the film's only redeemable scene. Eighteen years, 50-plus albums and singles, and several more acting roles later, From Justin to Kelly remains her most explicit project. "Since U Been Gone" refers to Kelly's skinema career.
