Kelly Clarkson shows off down-home appeal

Kelly Clarksons stage set is skimpy by Katy Perry standards. The original American Idols J.C. Penney style is painfully un-hip compared with Lady Gagas grandeur. Her bootie, well, lets just say Beyonce would dress that thing up.

But what other stars consider faults are Clarksons assets just ask anyone at the singers sold-out Wang Theatre show last night. You cant fake what Clarkson has: honest, earnest, down-home appeal. Trust me, many have tried and failed (see the aforementioned Perry).

Between great hits (Since U Been Gone, Breakaway) and a good deal of filler, Clarkson chatted like one of her tween fans after shotgunning a Red Bull. It kept the show from finding a rhythm and diminished the punch of the intense numbers her take on Florence + the Machines Heavy in Your Arms showed off her range. But her Texas-drawl motormouth is so natural, so endearing, its hard to fault her for it.

The nights best moment came after she admitted her love for Heart: I will take it to the power ballad, I will Celine Dion you. Then, with her eight-piece band tucked around her like it was a living-room pickin party, she belted out a glorious What About Love?

But the kids came for her hits. And they got a string of them crammed into the last 30 minutes of a nearly two hour show: What Doesnt Kill You, My Life Would Suck Without You, Mr. Know It All, Miss Independent, and more.

She doesnt have the budget or market share of the top tier. She has 10 years of hits and the rare charm of a genuine smile.