People don't want to have this conversation, but Kelly Clarkson really has one of the top voices currently active in the industry. Everyone is great for their own reasons and it's not as simple as Singer A is better than Singer B or anything, I think the reason she isn't at an Adele/Celine/Whitney level (for example) in the general publics eyes, is her song choices are hit or miss. The skill and talent is there in excess. This is a hit, but it's for the grown people that have experienced true heartbreak. Heartbreak and love are universal, but I think the music she's making lately is definitely for the 35+ crowd.