What do diminutive pop-rock star Kelly Clarkson and diminutive hip-hop and pop star Nicki Minaj have in common, apart from the fact Minaj performs here Thursday and Clarkson on Sunday?
More than you might think. (Information on both their concerts appears below.)
Which artist do you prefer?
Nicki Minaj
Kelly Clarkson
282 total votes.
Both were born in 1982. Both have been featured on hit songs co-written by pop music go-to-maven Max Martin (Clarkson’s “My Life Would Suck Without You” in 2009, Justin Bieber and Minaj’s “Beauty and the Beat” in 2012). And both came to the attention of a mass mainstream audience via “American Idol.”
Clarkson, 33, was the first first-place winner on “Idol” in the show’s 2002 debut season. As a contestant, she was not paid to be on “Idol.” But she used her impressive victory as a catapult to fame and fortune. She’s since sold nearly 14 million albums, second only to fellow “Idol” alum Carrie Underwood, and scored more hit singles than any other “Idol” winner.
Minaj, 32, was paid a reported $12 million to serve as a judge on the show in 2012, a major coup for a performer then largely unknown to most non-hip-hop fans. Minaj and fellow “Idol” judge Mariah Carey seemingly came to near-blows, on camera and off, but that’s another story.
On May 30, Minaj and Clarkson co-headlined “The iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party,” a CW TV special that was filmed May 30 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and aired on June 11.
Granted, Clarkson’s down-to-earth image is far removed from Minaj’s alternately cartoonish and sex-bomb-like personas. But the two are admirers, in a manner.
“It’s official,” Clarkson tweeted last year, after watching Minaj’s bump-and-grind-fueled “Anaconda” video. “I want a body like Nicki Minaj. That should take like 2 lifetimes for me to achieve ha-ha! She has an amazing body! Goodness!”
Minaj responded in kind, tweeting: “thank u kelly!!!! Ur very sexy tho. Booty and thighs. Love it. Lol.”
How else do these two stack up, side by side? Decide for yourself.
NICKI MINAJ
Name: Onika Tanya Maraj
Date of birth: Dec. 8, 1982
Place of birth: Saint James, Trinidad & Tobago (she grew up in Queens, N.Y.).
Height: 5 feet, 2 inches
Graduated from: LaGuardia High School in 2000
Discovered: Via her MySpace page
First release: “Playtime Is Over” mixtape (2007)
Breakthrough appearance: In Gucci Mane’s 2009 “Five Star Chick” video, in which Minaj’s doll-like, hands-on-hip poses inspired many imitators
Number of albums released: Four
Most watched video: “Anaconda” (495,636,961 views)
Nicki Minaj, “Anaconda”
Vocal duet with Justin Bieber? Yes, on “Beauty and the Beat”
Controversy of note: Took to Twitter last month to question if race or body size were factors in determining who was nominated — and who was not — in this year’s MTV Video Music Awards category for Video of the Year.
“If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid. of the year,” Minaj tweeted. “I’m not always confident. Just tired. Black women influence pop culture so much but are rarely rewarded for it.” Taylor Swift responded with defensive, self-centered tweets. She apologized the next day, saying: “I thought I was being called out. I missed the point, I misunderstood, then misspoke. I’m sorry, Nicki.”
Famous in-laws: No. Minaj was engaged to fellow rapper Meek Mill earlier this year. It is unclear if she still is, but she recently referred to Mill on stage as “my baby father.”
Performs barefoot on stage: No
Grammy Awards: None
Earnings: An estimated $14 million in 2014, according to Forbes magazine
Quote of note: “Don’t get it twisted. It’s not about money, it’s not about the fame. It’s about I don’t have to worry about if my little brother is gonna be able to get a new toy for Christmas. It’s those little tiny things that really make up the bigger picture. So, my happiness doesn’t come from money or fame. My happiness comes from seeing life without struggle.”
KELLY CLARKSON
Name: Kelly Brianne Clarkson
Date of birth: April 24, 1982
Place of birth: Fort Worth, Texas
Height: 5 feet, 3 inches
Graduated from: Burleson High School in 2000
Discovered: Via “American Idol”
First release: The single “A Moment Like This” (2002)
Breakthrough appearance: “American Idol”
Number of albums released: Seven
Most watched video: “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You”) (157,766,481 views)
Kelly Clarkson, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Vocal duet with Justin Bieber? No
Controversy of note: Endorsed Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul in 2011, a move that earned her criticism on social media. “I am really sorry if I have offended anyone,” Clarkson responded. “Obviously that was not my intent. I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women’s rights, men’s rights, white/black/purple/orange rights. I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all. Out of all of the Republican nominees, he’s my favorite.”
Famous in-laws: Yes. Country-music star Reba McEntire is the stepmother-in-law of Clarkson, who married Brandon Blackstock in 2013. Clarkson has a 1-year-old daughter, River. McEntire and her husband recently announced they would be divorcing; Clarkson has publicly urged them to reconcile.
Performs barefoot on stage: Yes
Grammy Awards: Three
Earnings: An estimated $8 million in 2014, according to Forbes magazine
Quote of note: “I’m petite, but I was the biggest girl on my season (of ‘Idol’). Everyone else weighed 100 pounds. Reporters would ask: ‘So what’s it like being a big girl?’ And I thought: ‘Big? What?’ It was like: ‘Wait, what am I doing wrong?’ Luckily, I had a great mom and dad who helped me grow up feeling comfortable in my own skin. I have a curvy figure, which guys like. And performing isn’t about looking the best or being the most beautiful. I do it because I love it.”
Nicki Minaj, with Meek Mill, Rae Sremmurd, Tinashe
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
Where: Sleep Train Amphitheatre, 2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Tickets: $18-$82.50
Phone: (800) 745-3000
Online: livenation.com
Kelly Clarkson, with Pentatonix, Eric Hutchinson, Abi Ann
When: 7 p.m. Sunday
Where: Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl, 5500 Canyon Crest Drive, San Diego State University
Tickets: $20-$69.50
Phone: (800) 745-3000
Online: ticketmaster.com
