Graceful Kelly Clarkson's everywoman appeal just grows stronger

Kelly Clarkson stands out by being average.

Clarkson is such a Plain Jane, it would be hard to pick her out of a crowd. But put the original American Idol next to Beyonce, Britney and Lady Gaga, and suddenly one of these things is not like the other. This is the trick to Clarksons repeated rebounds.

Since winning the first Idol crown in 2002, Clarkson who plays the Wang Theatre tomorrow has bounced between A-lister and underdog. Her 2004 hit Since U Been Gone was one of the top pop tunes of the last decade. Three years later, she pushed darker, less mainstream material on My December and the album flopped. In 2009, she roared back with chart-topping single My Life Would Suck Without You. Then she released three follow-up singles that missed the Top 10.

All these ups and down her latest up being her Saturday Night Live performance last month but her career has never flat-lined. Why? Because theres no one like her. Well, theres no one in pop like her.

Take away her impressive voice and Kelly is the girl next door: no skimpy Catholic school girl outfits, no dresses made of cold cuts, no trysts with Jake Gyllenhaal, John Mayer or A-Rod.

Instead of videos that look like S&M parties, she hides her normal body in normal clothes and acts the goof. Shes the kind of pop star youd like to have a beer with mostly because the other pop stars drink Dom Perignon, Remy Martin and bottled water from some mountain spring in Fiji.

When the Idol producers began scouring the masses for an unknown with pipes of gold, they were hunting for Clarkson. After Carrie Underwood, Clarkson is the best-selling Idol alum. Her 11 million albums sold in the States tops numbers by Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson and 60 other contestants who came away from the show with record contracts.

Theres always another pop tart looking to take down Britney. Lady Gaga, Ke$ha and Rihanna constantly battle over Madonnas shock queen crown. But nobodys gunning for Clar! kson.

Eventually someone is going to figure out her formula and take her down. Until then, shell keep coming back with that big, baby-faced smile and a fresh, cute pop song.

Kelly Clarkson with Matt Nathanson, at the Wang Theatre, tomorrow. Tickets: $39.50-$79.50; www.citicenter.org.