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Orlando Sentinel

'American Idol'' singer Kelly Clarkson's band was at a small bar in Vera Cruz on Thursday, but it wasn't to play a show.

Seven members of the nine-member band ended up walking into Vera Cruz

Tavern on Main Street after their bus broke down just off the Turnpike's Northeast

Extension, less than a mile from the establishment, bartenders said.

''We saw them walking down the road with suitcases and stuff, and one of the customers opened the door and waved them in,'' bartender Barb Angstadt said. ''They said, 'We're with the band and we broke down.'''

Angstadt said the breakdown came after 4 p.m. -- less than three hours before the start of the show and five hours before the band went on stage. Clarkson was not with the group.

''My band almost didn't make it tonight,'' Clarkson said on stage, then gave a shout-out to the tavern.

Angstadt said the band waited two hours at the bar -- a replacement bus had trouble getting to them because southbound lanes of the Turnpike were blocked by a fatal crash.

Angstadt said she gave the band sodas and they took pictures of the bar, then posed for pictures with her and other customers. ''It was exciting,'' she said. ''Nothing like this ever happens in Vera Cruz.'' Angstadt said she's not a huge Clarkson fan, but her son, Cody, 14, is.

-- John J. Moser

Kelly Goes Commando!

New Album.....

Kelly Clarkson has said she is working on a new album due for the last quarter of 2008, and is working with producer Ryan Tedder. OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder has confirmed that he is working on new material with Kelly Clarkson for her fourth album. Tedder, who co-wrote and produced Leona Lewis's number one hit 'Bleeding Love', (GREAT SONG) says that Kelly Clarkson's new songs will feature "big choruses" and "heavy drum programming".He also revealed that the songs are influenced by nineties electro-rockers Garbage, while one song, a mid-tempo rock ballad, features "an experimental bridge inspired by Mozart". Clarkson has stated in radio interviews that she has a sequel song for "Irvine" called "I Finally Got It Right" that she plans to have on the next album. In March 2008, four demo recordings Kelly recorded were leaked to the internet. The track titles were: "Close Your Eyes", "One Day", "Ready", and "With A Little Bit Of Luck." In respect of Kelly and the band these will not at any time be on this site.

Attendance: A sellout crowd of 9,700

The gig: The country music icon and the original American Idol, kicking off their tour Thursday night at Wright State University.

The odd couple: Reba and Kelly? Makes sense. Their relationship is like that of the tick bird and the rhino: all about symbiosis. Mainly because of their Grammy-nominated duet on Clarkson's Because of You, McEntire, 52, landed her first No. 1 album (Reba Duets) last year. Paired with McEntire, 25-year-old Clarkson is packing in crowds after canceling last summer's arena tour because of crummy ticket sales.

The crowd: Decidedly feminine. Maybe because it's roughly $2,964 cheaper than going to see Miley Cyrus, here's a mother-daughter outing for the budget-minded. Or an aunt-niece outing, in the case of Cassie Simon of Dayton. "I'm, like, the biggest Reba fan in the world," Simon bragged. She brought 11-year-old Bobbi-Jo Myers. "I figured she'd like Kelly Clarkson," Simon said. "I'm trying to convert her." Bobbi-Jo, if you're wondering, likes both anyway.

The opening act: Comedian Melissa Peterman — yep, Barbra Jean from Reba's old WB/CW sitcom — struck a family-friendly tone, which doesn't necessarily mean a laugh riot. But as an Idol voter, she did take credit for Clarkson's 2002 win. "Without me," she said, "you might be seeing Reba and Justin Guarini."

The first song:Sweet Dreams. Patsy Cline? Nope — Eurythmics.

An Idol faces her idol: "I've wanted to do this since I was 10 years old," Clarkson told the crowd.

The prediction: "We hope and pray that you have half as much fun as we plan on having tonight," McEntire said. Despite the age difference, the two apparently have become the best of buds in the wake of their teaming on CMT Crossroads.

Hey, it's opening night: During a so-so cover of the Everly Brothers classic Cathy's Clown, McEntire's mike cut out during a verse. But really, that couldn't diminish the charm of them sitting on stools together for seven songs.

A little bit country: Clarkson more than stood her ground. Early on, you might have assumed the blues-boogie of Why Haven't I Heard From You, a 1994 hit for McEntire, was Clarkson's all along.

A little bit rock 'n' roll: For Clarkson's grrl anthems, McEntire seemed delegated to the role of backup singer. On Never Again, the lead single from Clarkson?s My December album, she maybe wisely stepped back and cut the young pup loose.

Wall of sound: How many people does it take to play a seemingly simple pop ditty like Since U Been Gone? A lot, apparently. With multiple guitarists, two drummers, some dude smacking the congas and a whole mess of others, McEntire and Clarkson had officially assembled enough firepower to challenge the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The last word: If you came for the power duet Because of You, you had to wait for the encores. But in the end, seniority ruled: McEntire's 1991 hit Fancy closed the show. And oh, yeah, back in '91, Clarkson was just 9.

Next stops: Louisville, Friday; Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday. The 15-date tour wraps up Feb. 16 in Kansas City, Mo.

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Kelly goes Platinum...

Latest Platinum Album Certifications

My December Clarkson, Kelly 6/26/2007 Rca Records 12/12/2007