WHILE Cheryl Cole relies on polished dance routines and Lady Gaga's hair is more memorable than her hits, Kelly Clarkson’s show is thankfully gimmick-free.

There’s a live band and some strobe lighting – but that's it. No elaborate staging, no flying from wires, no dancers. Not even a costume change.

Kelly lets her music rule the show and gave the crowd all they ever wanted – sing-a-long hits 'Miss Independent', 'Breakaway', 'Since U Been Gone' and her UK number one 'My Life Would Suck Without You'.

But the 27-year-old has matured since wowing Simon Cowell on 'American Idol' in 2002, now covering tracks by Patsy Cline and blues combo The Black Keys - influenced by her Texan upbringing.

Alanis Morissette and British rockers the White Stripes added effortless variety, and an acoustic version of 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' provided the perfect opportunity for Kelly to show off her fantastic voice.

Still haunted by the reality TV ghost, celebrity magazines have often scrutinised Kelly's weight. Dressed in a stringy black T-shirt and bum-hugging trousers her curvy figure, is certainly no size zero.

But those sexy curves simply set her further apart from rivals whose talent is as negligible as their daily calorie intake.