In early 2004, Clarkson began working on new material for her second studio album, which followed her successful … See more

Wanting to stray away from the R&B-styled music of Thankful, which she described as a showcase of versatility, she revealed that Thankful's success "empowered me to step more into rock, step more into the soulful vibe." She … See more

Breakaway was first released in North America on November 30, 2004, by RCA Records, 19 Recordings, and S Records, following an influx of releases by American Idol contestants Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, … See more

Breakaway's lead single, "Since U Been Gone", was released in November 2004, but gained traction at the beginning of 2005. After debuting at number seventy, it peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at number two, and st… See more

The album received positive reviews from music critics. AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine, who gave it four out of five stars, wrote "what gives Breakaway its spine are the driving, anthemic pop tunes, numbers th… See more