Fall of an Idol?

Kelly Clarkson proved that she had won America's love when the masses elected her the first American Idol in 2002. She then planted herself firmly in the ground of the pop music world with such hits as "Miss Independent," "Because of You," and "Walk Away." However, she still can't sell-out an arena. In fact, her ticket sales for her upcoming summer tour were so financially disappointing that the tour has been cancelled, Clarkson announced on her website on June 14.

The only show still set to occur is the Live Earth performance on July 7 in East Rutherford, NJ, which aims to raise awareness for environmental issues and was originally scheduled as the beginning of the tour.

The tour cancellation comes at a tumultuous time for her career: only two days after she fired her former manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, whom she replaced with Paul Freundlich.

To boot, Clarkson has faced artistic adversity surrounding her forthcoming album, "My December." What should have been the breakthrough single on that to-be-released-on-June-26 CD, the heated rock song "Never Again" peaked at number 8 on the Billboard and quickly fell to number 17. Reports of her contentious interactions with her "employer," RCA's Clive Davis, over her new artistic direction, which Clarkson tactfully deflected in an Associated Press interview, further undermine the Grammy-winning singer's standing.Although everyone around Clarkson insists that she has no where to go but up; cancelled tours, unappreciated and unheard singles, and rocky relations with the music industry do not spell simple career success.