Kelly Clarkson was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas.
Clarkson was raised a strict Southern Baptist. She explains her religious upbringing:
I come from a conservative family. My family was highly conservative; I had to go to church on Sunday and Wednesday.[1]
And while acknowledging the importance of religion during her childhood, Clarkson confirmed in 2004 that it's become even more important to her in adulthood:
I always grew up in church. I was the leader of our youth group. I've always grown up pretty close to church and with God. But I think I've just gotten a lot closer just because He's the only One I can lean on.[2]
It would seem that Christianity is a big deal for Clarkson, though she insists that she's not a "fundamentalist."[3]
A Mixed Bag
Politically, Clarkson is a bit all over the place, indicating an independent or moderate stance on politics.
For example, she married a Republican who declared his support for Mitt Romney in 2012, but in both 2008 and 2012, she voted for Obama, even declaring herself an "Obama girl."[4]
One wonders about the political discussions in the Clarkson household, as she once explained why she couldn't support Mitt Romney:
I can't support Romney's policies as I have a lot of gay friends and I don't think it's fair they can't get married.[5]
Interestingly, the previous year, as Republican primaries were underway, Clarkson expressed support for Republican (though formerly Libertarian) candidate, Ron Paul, saying:
I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote.[6]
And when asked about her views on the death penalty, she seemed to qualify her statement from the frame of being a Republican, in a sort of 'this is how I'm different from my fellow Republicans' way. She said:
I don't believe in the death penalty. Most Republicans do but not me.[7]
Clarkson appears to be a person who evaluates issues rather than parties–and that's great.
Written by Giorgio Taietti and Tom Kershaw
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