2003's "Miss Independent" was a Top 10 hit for which "American Idol" winner?

The 2003 Top 10 hit "Miss Independent" was recorded by Kelly Clarkson, the first winner of "American Idol." It became an important early single in her transition from television competition winner to established pop singer.

The song was released from Clarkson's debut studio album, "Thankful," which arrived in 2003. Its lyrics describe a self-reliant woman who gradually lets down her emotional defenses and allows herself to fall in love. The upbeat track helped show a more assertive musical identity than Clarkson's debut single, "A Moment Like This."

Clarkson won the first season of "American Idol" in 2002, while "Miss Independent" became a U.S. Top 10 hit the following year. The title can cause confusion because the song is sometimes associated with Clarkson's later image, but it belongs to her first post-show album.