Stronger Tour

The Stronger Tour was the sixth headlining tour by American pop recording artist Kelly Clarkson. Beginning on January 13, 2012, the tour supported her fifth studio album, Stronger (2011). With over fifty dates, the tour traveled to the Americas, Australia and Europe. It ended on October 20, 2012, in London, England.

The tour grossed $7.4M in the US with 43 dates.

Background
During an interview with MTV News, Clarkson stated a tour was being planned for "sometime in 2012". The tour was officially announced on November 14, 2011 with over 30 shows in the United States and Canada. Joining the singer on tour is Matt Nathanson as the opening act on select shows. Clarkson mentioned she was looking forward to performing "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)". She explained, "I can't wait to perform What Doesn't Kill You. We've already rehearsed it, and it's so much fun. It's like this big dance anthem". For the show, Clarkson asked her fans to votes to requests on Twitter.

Opening acts

 * Matt Nathanson (North America) (select dates)
 * Carolina Liar (North America) (select dates)
 * The Fray (Australia)
 * Sarah De Bono (Australia)
 * Cover Drive (Europe)

Tour dates

 * Festivals and other miscellaneous performances

Personnel
The Band
 * Kelly Clarkson – Lead vocals
 * Aben Eubanks – Guitar, backup vocals
 * Cory Churko – Guitar, violin, backup vocals (North American leg)
 * Chris Rodriguez – Guitar, backup vocals Australian & European leg)
 * Einar Pedersen – Bass, backup vocals
 * Jason Halbert– Keyboards, musical director
 * Miles McPherson – Drums
 * Jill Pickering – Backup vocalist, guitar
 * Kate Rapier – Backup vocalist, assistant
 * Nicole Hurst – Backup vocalist

The Glam Team
 * Ashley Donovan – Makeup & hair
 * Steph Ashmore – Stylist
 * Layne Lewis – Wardrobe

The Crew
 * Dennis Sharp – Tour manager
 * Alan Hornall – Production manager
 * Christopher Dye-Technical director
 * Jim Collins – Tour accountant
 * Harold Behrens – Stage manager
 * Tricia Farrow – Production assistant
 * Brian Butner – Security
 * Chris Michaelessi – FOH engineer
 * Robert Miller – Monitor engineer
 * Bryan Jones – Guitar tech
 * James Fridley – Guitar tech
 * Peter Moffett – Drum tech
 * Douglas McKinley – Audio system tech
 * Jeffrey Wuerth – Audio system tech
 * Kevin Gorge – Audio crew


 * Chris Berry – Audio crew
 * Fraser MacKeen – Lighting director
 * Leroy Bennett – Production lighting manager
 * Ron Schilling – Lighting crew chief
 * Ben Meserole – Lighting tech
 * Jessica Quinn – Lighting tech
 * Wade Cotton – Lighting tech
 * Cory FitzGerald – Lighting programmer
 * William Parisien – Video director
 * Nathaniel Fountain – Projectionist
 * Nick Strand – Projectionist
 * Stephen Haskins – Video tech
 * Randall Ice – Video tech
 * Martin Capiraso – Head carpenter
 * Michael Kinnard – Carpenter
 * Bob Powers – Rigger

Other
 * Narvel Blackstock & Starstruck Management – Management
 * Flood, Bumstead, McCreedy & McCarthy Inc. & Kristen Braaksma – Business management
 * CAA & Darryl Eaton – Booking agency
 * Preferred Travel – Travel agency
 * NPB Companies, Inc. – Security
 * Upstaging Inc. – Lighting
 * Clair Brothers, 8th Day Sound – Sound
 * Tait Towers – Staging/Set
 * Chaos Visual Productions – Video company
 * Janco Ltd. – Trucking
 * Rockit Cargo – Freight
 * Rich Koffer & Bravado – Merchandise

Critical reception
The show has received universal critical acclaim, praising Clarkson's vocals, as well as the production of the show and the set list. Michele Amabile from The Hollywood Reporter says that "Clarkson's personable nature and powerhouse vocals prove that she is growing stronger with each album and tour." Kevin McSheffrey from Boston Music Spotlight said "The Wang was sold out and Clarkson's adoring fans stood throughout the performance, dancing along to lively tunes like Since U Been Gone and new single What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger), while still standing for ballads such as You Still Won’t Know What It's Like and Don’t You Wanna Stay, complete with Jason Aldean appearing virtually through a curtain screen." Glenn Gamboa from the Long Island Newsday stated "That Clarkson can transform that pain into something so beautiful and a concert so enjoyable shows that she is so much more than a great singer. She's a great artist". Greg Haymes from Timesunion.com said "While the simple but versatile stage set (featuring her backing musicians on two multi-level platforms) and the lighting both dazzled, they never over-powered Clarkson and her strong, supple voice". After performing close to her hometown in Dallas, Texas, Rich Lopez from Dallasvoice.com stated "She really is the girl next door with her aw shucks sassy and fun demeanor. Every little comment she made about being home resulted in deafening roars and she punctuated her homegrown flavor with a thick "kuntry" accent. Clarkson was without any doubt, the homecoming queen for the night". Preston Jones from dfw.com called I Know You Won't and Don't You Wanna Stay the songs that stood out the most in her show in Dallas, and also added: The combination of her personable nature with songs expressing deep vulnerability gave a jolt of feeling to a show that often felt like a giddy karaoke party in a superstar's living room.