Kelly Clarkson ups the ante at Kent's ShoWare Center

Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of "American Idol," has gone on to sell 20 million albums. Clarkson plays Kent's ShoWare Center Thursday, March 22.

Recently hitting No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart, singer Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" is the latest monster hit for the Fort Worth, Texas, native and first "American Idol" winner. With album sales of more than 20 million copies worldwide, Clarkson is the biggest pop star ever to play Kent's ShoWare Center. Singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson is also on the bill. Clarkson, a mentor for Team Blake (Shelton) on NBC-TV's "The Voice," will star this summer in ABC-TV's competing reality show, "Duets.".

8 p.m. Thursday, ShoWare Center, 625 W. James St., Kent; $35-$65 (253-856-6999 or tickets.showarecenter.com).

Gene Stout, Special to The Seattle Times