Kelly's 'Dark Side' wows Brisbane fans
Kelly Clarkson wows them at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Picture: Adam Smith Source: The Courier-Mail
SHE won the American Idol crown 10 years ago but the public scrutiny of Kelly Clarkson didn't end there.
The Texan pop-rock diva's fluctuating weight and even questions over her sexuality have been the source of tabloid fodder.
But 30-year-old Clarkson proved again that she has the last word when she opened her Australian tour at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Tuesday night, belting out the 2009 smash hit single My Life Would Suck Without You.
Dressed in black leggings, a black top adorned with coloured sequins and ankle boots, Clarkson commanded the stage without backup dancers or fancy effects - tricks that singers possessing half the strength or depth of her vocal range often rely on.
A smiling Kelly Clarkson performs for Brisbane. Picture: Adam Smith
Clarkson is personable and sweet in her stage manner, profusely thanking her fans for "coming tonight" with her distinctly southern twang.
Her magnificent vocals were on clear display when she made her way to a makeshift stage positioned in the middle of the crowd for a rousing rendition of We Are Young and later a cover of Adele's global hit Someone Like You, silencing any doubts.
Kelly Clarkson on stage at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Picture: Adam Smith
Although a decade has passed since Idol thrust her into the spotlight, Clarkson is acutely aware of her roots - and indeed the scores of other reality talent show contestants vying for the kind of stardom that she has accomplished.
Recent reality talent show graduate Sarah de Bono and Denver piano-rock band The Fray were the support acts.