By Tracy Bratten - Clear Channel Radio Digital

Kelly Clarkson performed at the PC Richard and Son theater in Manhattan's TriBeCa neighborhood Tuesday night, and her stellar 16-song set was all the fans could have ever wanted... and much more.

The original American Idol released her 4th studio album, All I Ever Wanted, in March - a step in the right direction after her previous effort, My December, fell short of being the hit machine that its predecessor, Breakaway, was.

Z100's JJ welcomed eager Kelly fanatics to the theater, introducing Clarkson as "a pimp and a champion" before she kicked off the show with the title track from her latest album, "All I Ever Wanted." Wearing a fuschia fitted jacket and a huge smile, Kelly immediately set the tone for what was sure to be an energetic and upbeat, albeit intimate pop rock show.

She then launched right into her early hit, "Miss Independent," before pleasing the crowd with her most recent single, "I Do Not Hook Up" - a song that Rolling Stone described as "another spitfire mix of melody and crashing guitars — one of the most raucous odes to chastity in recent memory." An ode that everyone knew all the words to.

Live, Kelly is extremely impressive. Considering her wide-ranging, seemingly flawless vocals, it's no wonder that she won a singing competition. But her level of performance far exceeds her singing ability. Kelly Clarkson is more than a great pop singer. She's a rockstar.

And despite the fact that a large majority of her lyrics champion every angry girl's heartbroken cause, her attitude is humble and pleasant. After her first three songs she addressed her adoring fans with her southern twang, "What's up how y'all doin'?"

Perhaps the highlights of the night were her aptly chosen cover songs. Kelly admitted she didn't know that she was such a huge Rod Stewart fan until she realized that she knew all of his music, but thank goodness she did, because her adjustment of his "Some Guys Have All The Luck" to "some girls have all the luck" fit nicely into her catalog - a repertoire of characteristically emotional records that wax angry at all the men out there. "I hope y'all like it" she cooed, adding after she sang it (and rocked it), "I love that song - probably 'cause its relatable."

If nothing else, Kelly is certainly relatable. She's approachable and sincere, the kind of artist that you feel like you could be best friends with. In a world where sometimes it's not hip to love the Britney Spears' and Miley Cyrus' out there, its not uncool for even a non pop aficionado to appreciate Kelly's talented presence.

Kelly also paid homage to her upbringing by playing bluesy, rock-tinged rendition of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight." It was a bluesy and soulful tribute that would make Texas proud of the girl from Burleson.

And there were other vulnerable moments in the otherwise energetic show. She played an acoustic version of "Behind These Hazel Eyes" against only a guitar, once again showing off her vocal chops, as well as a broken down version of "Cry," which sounded like it could be a smash hit at country radio if she chose to cross over.

The crowd included fans who had seen her live before, and when they begged her to sing Janet Jackson's "If," she obliged - offering the disclaimer that she had only done that song twice and this was unplanned and unrehearsed. But "who doesn't love Janet Jackson!?" It may have been unrehearsed and rough around the edges, but that only made it feel more raw.

She played all the favorites - "Breakaway," "Because of You," and no Kelly Clarkson show would be complete without the infectious and quintessential "Since U Been Gone."

Her last ballad of the night was the next single, "Already Gone," a heartbreaking song she penned with OneRepublic's Ryan Teder, before she closed the show with "My Life Would Suck Without You."

Simon Cowell should be proud of the superstar that was born out of reality television 7 years ago. And where Kelly Clarkson is concerned, no Idol will ever come close to comparing to the original.