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Clarkson idolized at gig in Clearwater

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BY ROB SHAW

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2012

CLEARWATER - Forget about Taylor Hicks, Kris Allen and David Cook.

Kelly Clarkson, the original American Idol from a decade ago, is going stronger than ever.

She was handpicked this month by the NFL to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. Less than two weeks ago, she took the stage at the Grammys to belt out her duet of "Don't You Wanna Stay" with country singer Jason Aldean.

Heck, she's even going to be lending her talents to the "The Voice" on NBC next month.

But for nearly 90 minutes in Clearwater on Tuesday night, she belonged to a near sold-out crowd at Ruth Eckerd Hall.

From the moment she took the stage, nearly everyone was standing the entire night. They sang, they bounced, they danced — from high-heel-wearing middle-schoolers to gray-haired grandparents.

They didn't care that she was 29 and still single. It didn't matter that some people wrote she was fat or a failure, words that screamed out in large print in headlines as she prepared for her first song, "Dark Side."

After that first song from her fifth and latest album, "Stronger," Clarkson turned to a couple of old hits: "Behind These Hazel Eyes" and "Since U Been Gone."

Then it was time for another song, "You Love Me," from the new album. Holding a glittery red microphone and dressed mainly in black, she told fans it took her a decade to write that song.

Clarkson also turned her attention to songs from others: "Heavy in Your Arms" by Florence + the Machine, "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar and "I Know You Won't" by fellow "Idol" winner Carrie Underwood.

She pulled off a memorable duet with Aldean, who wasn't there. An image of him on a portable curtain that made him look lifelike and quite giant played opposite Clarkson for that hit song.

And she didn't forget the songs that turned her into a veritable hit machine the past 10 years.

She did a medley of "The Trouble With Love Is," "Walkaway," "How I Feel" and "I Want You." Then came "Breakaway," "Already Gone," "Stronger," "Mr. Know It All" and "Miss Independent."

On the same night the hit Fox TV show "Glee" covered the chart-topping "Stronger" song — in which Clarkson joked she might have to bop offstage to watch it — she said she can't forget her "American Idol" roots.

"I literally am here because people wanted me here," she told the adoring crowd. "Every time I have an argument with my label, that's what I throw in."

rshaw@tampatrib.com (813) 259-7999

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