Anyone who thinks the popularity of "American Idol" winners or contestants is fleeting should attend a Kelly Clarkson [ tickets ] show.

Girls squealed for the first-season "Idol" winner throughout her Monday performance at Phoenix's Cricket Pavilion. Things finally came to a head during her signature tune, "Since U Been Gone," when older girls and boys alike departed their spots in the pavilion and on the lawn, brushed by security guards and rushed the stage with reckless abandon.

The raucousness began during the encore, when Clarkson, a two-time Grammy winner, surprised fans at the back of the pavilion by performing an acoustic version of "Breakaway" on a platform facing the lawn. Fans filled the walkway between the two seating areas to catch a glimpse of Clarkson and her newly shorn, asymmetrical-bob haircut. When she followed with "Since U Been Gone," the crowd let loose as she jumped off the platform and walked through the amphitheater to the stage.

Although the admiration was taken to an extreme toward the end of the show, Clarkson's fans were with her from the beginning, when loudspeakers blared AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long."

The show began with visions of a violinist and Clarkson backlit on a curtain hiding the stage. "Addicted" was a striking way to kick off the 90-minute performance, especially when Clarkson aggressively grabbed the microphone and let part of her hair drop over her right eye.

With her two background singers--who doubled as dancers--Clarkson's "Behind These Hazel Eyes" took on a new life: a powerful punch with a straightforward rock feel.

She used the show to preview a new song, the gentle "Maybe," which she said will appear on her new album due in stores next February.

"This tour is all about showcasing my music," said Clarkson, wearing a Blondie "Rapture" shirt, a black-and-white checkered ska-like belt, and black pants. "Thank you all for turning out tonight. I've done a lot of touring this year."

From there she rolled into "Gone" and a striking acoustic version of "Because of You," a song she said she penned several years ago. "Because of You" proved to be the ideal vehicle for her to display her wide range. The noise of the crowd overpowered Clarkson's voice during the verses, but when the singer introduced a chorus with an unbelievable vocal solo, fans quieted and cheered.

There were a few miscues in an otherwise stellar show. For one, Clarkson missed her mark as the band started "Thankful," but true to her lighthearted ways, she joyfully laughed it off.