On an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday October 2, singer Lionel Richie and the American Idolwinner talked candidly about grief and how to overcome it. “I do think a lot of people deal with grief in such a different way, but I love that you say, ‘Grief is the great teacher of what matters most,’” Kelly said, mentioning a line from Lionel‘s memoir, Truly. “And I think, no matter how you deal with grief, it is very different for everyone. But I do find that very, very true. How did you figure that out?”
“It’s a real moment where you can’t phone it in, but at the same time, we rehearse things. You can’t rehearse grief,” Lionel responded. “You can’t rehearse the loss of your mother or your father or a friend. You can’t rehearse that.
“And so, what I found is that when I get involved with the word uncontrollable grief, I let go,” the 76-year-old added. “Believe it or not, I look forward to finding out who am I going to be really… that’s the real me.”
“If you hurt so badly, that means you love so deeply,” he added, seemingly prompting Kelly to have an emotional moment.
“Hold on, I can save you, don’t worry,” the “Ballerina Girl” singer said, before leaping out of his seat to place his hand on Kelly’s forehead. The pair laughed and the TV host threw up her hands, saying, “I feel healed!”
On Monday, September 29, the “Since U Been Gone” singer returned to her talk show for its season premiere, the first time she is back on the air since the death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
She and the late talent manager, who passed away aged 48 after a multi-year battle with melanoma, a form of skin cancer, were married from 2013 to 2022, and had two children together, daughter River, 11, and son Remy, nine.
Though she did not address the recent loss of her ex-husband and the grief and hardship that came with it, she did share: “We have seen a lot in the past six years, and sometimes the world can be very heavy, but I have always said my favorite part of doing this job, and I stand by it, is finding the light and shining it on people who are really trying to make a difference, and just trying to make the world a better place.”
“Sounds cheesy but it’s real, [it] makes you feel good,” before emphasizing: “That’s exactly what we’re going to be doing this week and all season, y’all.”
Kelly with Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell on the season seven premiere of the Kelly Clarkson Show
Kelly has never directly addressed her ex-husband’s passing, instead the family released a statement confirming his death which said he “passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
She did, however, issue a statement to explain why she was postponing shows as part of her Las Vegas residency, saying “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”
Kelly Clarkson has endured a difficult year, following the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, with whom she shares her kids, River and Remy. Now, the star will officially return to our screens on September 29 for the newest season of her award-winning series, The Kelly Clarkson Show. In a statement from NBC, the network shared that the seventh season of the hit series will begin production on September 8, with the first week of shows set honor the brave people who rescued campers during the Texas floods in July.
The devastating floods claimed the lives of at least 132 people, with over 100 still missing in the area. Kelly hails from Texas and was set to perform at a benefit concert for the victims in August before she was forced to cancel due to Brandon’s death. “Unfortunately, Kelly Clarkson will be unable to appear at Band Together Texas as planned, due to personal circumstances,” the organization shared. “We send our love to Kelly and her family.”
A new chapter
NBC shared that the new season of Kelly’s show will welcome a slew of A-listers, including Emily Blunt, Channing Tatum, Marion Cotillard, Lionel Richie, Colin Farrell, Scarlett Johansson, Shonda Rimes, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Julia Roberts, Margot Robbie and Reese Witherspoon. The show debuted in 2019, has gone on to win 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, and is nominated for eight more in 2025.
Kelly has helmed the series for over 1,000 episodes, cementing herself as a TV staple in the process. She will also return to The Voice for season 29 alongside John Legend and Adam Levine. The mother of two was forced to miss a day of shooting following Brandon’s death, with her fellow American Idol alum and talk show star Jennifer Hudson stepping in to help out.
The pair were married for almost seven years before their 2020 split
“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” his loved ones shared in a statement. “He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.” The 48-year-old died from melanoma, a malignant form of skin cancer.
The talent manager passed away after battling skin cancer
Saying goodbye
Just a day before the announcement, Kelly postponed her upcoming August performances, sharing that she needed to be with her kids River, 11, and Remy, nine. “Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” she wrote on social media. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill, and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”
“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows, and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” she concluded. The duo first met at the Country Music Awards in 2006, and reconnected in 2012 when she performed the national anthem at the Super Bowl. They married in October 2013, celebrating with an intimate ceremony in Tennessee.
When we look at the bright new class of country music, one of the stars shining the brightest is undoubtedly Elizabeth Nichols! From her breakout hit ‘I Got A New One’ to her newest track ‘Daughter,’ we are getting to watch an artist fully come into her own, discover her sound, and get better with each song.
We were lucky enough to chat with Elizabeth Nichols all about her success so far, new music, and receiving the coveted Kelly Clarkson treatment.
Hi Elizabeth! Thank you so much for chatting with us! To start us off, how would you describe your music to someone who is tuning in for the first time? I’d say probably clever and honest. Those are two elements that I see in all my favorite songs. I try to balance the two. I don’t want to be too clever that I’m not honest, or too straightforward that it kills the clever.
‘Tough Love’ is officially out! This acts as your debut multi-track project! What emotions have been going through your head as these seven tracks now live out in the world? I am so grateful. If you had told me one year ago that this is where I would be, I would have never believed you. The idea that some group of girls in another state is in the car with their friends, singing one of my songs, is the most surreal part of it all. Music is such a beautiful part of life, and I am honored to be given the opportunity to make it.
The video for ‘I Got A New One’ perfectly encapsulates each lyric of the track! Can you tell us a bit about that creative process and crafting the visuals? I grew up on Taylor Swift music videos. I love when a video really tells a story in the same way a song does, so it was important to me to really bring that visual side to life. We got to work with amazing creative directors, and it was so fulfilling to see the story turn from words on a page to a scene I got to be a part of.
What has it been like for you to see the way people have latched onto ‘I Got A New One’? Did you have any inkling that this song would be one that people took to? ‘I Got A New One’ was the first single I’d ever released, so I had no idea what to expect at all. I am so grateful that people like it and it’s connected the way that it has—that song truly changed my life.
We know that ‘Ain’t Country’ was your first jump into writing a country track. What changes about the songwriting process when you’re writing with a genre in mind? I was about 10 years old the last time I had written any kind of song, so ‘Ain’t Country’ was the first song I’ve written as an adult, and I think that country sound just kind of naturally came out of me because that’s what I grew up listening to. I also love storytelling and lyricism, and country music is a genre that really celebrates those things and makes space for that part of the craft.
Ahead of the release of Tough Love, was there a song you were most looking forward to seeing fans’ reactions to? I was most excited for fans to hear ‘Tough Love’ because it was the one song that I hadn’t teased at all before its release, so nobody had heard a single note of it. It was also the newest song out of the seven—I wrote it only a few weeks before the EP came out. There is something about how honest it is that I hoped fans would connect with.
We have to ask, ‘I Got A New One’ has officially received the Kelly Clarkson treatment! What was that like for you? I was and am extremely grateful. Kelly Clarkson is literally an American icon. She is so unbelievably talented, so the fact that she liked a song I wrote enough to cover it is a huge compliment—my family and I were so excited when it happened.
Once again, thank you so much for chatting with us! Before we let you go, what can fans look forward to as we round out the last few months of 2025? Some more music! I have a new single coming out in August. I’m also playing some shows throughout the end of this year, which I’m really excited about. I love meeting people out on the road.
We would love to hear from you! What is your favorite song off of Tough Love by Elizabeth Nichols? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting @TheHoneyPOP! We are also on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!
As fall approaches, it’s time to refresh your playlists with some of the most exciting rising artists in the music scene. Whether you’re into heartfelt lyricism, edgy pop-punk vibes, or genre-defying sounds, these five artists will surely become your next obsessions. From singer-songwriters capturing the pain of young love to independent artists breaking boundaries with their unique style, these musicians are making waves. Get ready to keep your eye on these artists—before they inevitably blow up. Here are 5 rising artists you need to start stanning this fall!
Lexi Jayde
For fans of Gracie Abrams and Lizzy McAlpine, Lexi Jayde is your next favorite artist. She’s already made a stellar debut with her EP Closer to Closure. Her single ‘drunk text me’ has wracked up almost 1,000,000 plays on Spotify. Her blossoming success has led to live shows at The Troubadour in LA and Baby’s Alright in Brooklyn. Before Lexi Jayde’s sophomore project inevitably blows up, get on board – it’ll be worth it.
Brynn Cartelli is primed to be the next big singer-songwriter pop star. She finds her niche in cinematic, lyrically, heart-tugging acoustic-pop, meeting and dare I say, even sometimes exceeding the precedent set by hits like Olivia Rodrigo‘s ‘drivers license‘ and Gracie Abrams‘s ‘Mess It Up.’ Now five years out from winning Season 14 of The Voice at only fifteen years old, Brynn Cartelli has already proved that she has enough vocal talent to succeed on that alone. Cartelli released her debut album Out of the Blue in March of 2024, with many of the album’s fourteen tracks self-written by Cartelli. Out of the Blue proves that she also shines as a lyricist, romanticizing the growing pains of young love and yearning for self-acceptance with the finesse and sophistication of a well-seasoned virtuoso.
Probably the biggest name on this list is Del Water Gap, the stage name for S. Holden Jaffe. He spent the summer opening for Niall Horan. He works with producer Sammy Witte (who you may know as the producer behind hits from Harry Styles, Luke Hemmings, Halsey, SZA – just to name a few). His first two albums are alt-pop gold. His finsta, @horsewithbowlcut, is chock full of hilarious memes of himself. Get on the Del Water Gap train now because when DWG3 is inevitably released, he’s going to be a massive star.
Almondmilkhunni fearlessly dropped her record label and went independent after her debut self-titled 2020 EP. Now, she’s truly hit the sweet spot in creating a conceptual project that’s the perfect balance of fun and introspective with her sophomore project ENJOY THE RIDE. From her quirky, LA girly social media feed, to her great respect for fans, and her teasing of live shows and potentially ENJOY THE RIDE PT.2 in the foreseeable future, Almondmilkhunni is an artist to watch. She takes the it-girl cool and out-of-this-world dance-pop style of artists like Charli XCX and Tinashe and lends her air of lighthearted vulnerability and charming softness.
Charlotte Sands has steadily gained recognition since her first release in 2018. Including a particular track that Harry Styles’ VOGUE cover may have inspired. With her her debut LP can we start over? released in January of 2024, Sands has now fully arrived as a powerhouse in the music scene. For fans of female rockstars who appreciate the vocal prowess of Kelly Clarkson or the pop-punk energy of Avril Lavigne, but may find Olivia Rodrigo a bit too youthful—Charlotte Sands is the perfect fit. She spent last year supporting pop-rock bands PVRIS and 5 Seconds of Summer. She also brought her first headlining tour international this spring, wowing audiences from New York to Sydney. With her stunning blue hair and down-to-earth sense of humor, she’s cool, she’s talented, and she’s diehard for her fans. What’s not to love?
What other rising artists do we need to start stanning this fall? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
We’re beyond ecstatic to see what the next chapter holds for BLACKPINK, and we’ll get to see what it holds for ROSÉ very soon! She just signed a global deal with the iconic Atlantic Records with THEBLACKLABEL handling management. Does this mean we’ll be getting new music shortly…? We have all of our fingers crossed!
Rosé also recently announced her fandom name, Number Ones (what a coincidence, supporting her is one of our number one priorities), and her @vampirehollie Finsta page to share more exclusive content with fans. So much is coming and we can’t wait to learn more! While we wait, let’s celebrate her Atlantic Records signing by imagining the perfect collabs with her new labelmates.
Bruno Mars
Much like Bruno Mars, we feel that Rosé has a timeless voice that could fit all sorts of retro vibes. Whether it’s a ballad like his Lady Gaga-assisted ‘Die With A Smile’ or an upbeat song like ‘Locked Out Of Heaven,’ we know they’d make a great pair! Their voices would be such a beautiful complement to each other and we’ll be dreaming of hearing them together until it happens.
Cardi B
Okay, we know we’ve technically gotten a Rosé x Cardi link-up because of BLACKPINK’s ‘Bet You Wanna,’ but let us dream a bit! We’d love to hear Rosie and Cardi team up again, especially if Rosé is going with a different sound for her solo work than we usually hear from her. The possibilities would be endless with these two talented ladies! We think a song about finding who you are and staying true to your most confident self would be fantastic, especially now that we’ll be meeting new sides of Rosé as a soloist.
Coldplay
Consider this our official petition to get one of Rosé’s ‘Viva La Vida’ covers out on streaming services. Or better yet, give us an official remix adding her vocals to Coldplay’s classic. Orrr give us a new song that has Rosie trading lines with Chris Martin. We’re not picky, we just want to hear them sing together! They can each move audiences so easily with their music, so a collab between them would change the world.
Kelly Clarkson
Much like Rosé, part of why we love Kelly Clarkson so much is because she’s a master at capturing emotion with her voice! A collab between these two would easily become one of our all-time favorite songs. We’d imagine it as a passionate, lower-tempo track like ‘GONE,’ which would let them show off their vocal and storytelling talents so well. And then we could get a Rosé appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show to see them sing it together!
Which of these collabs would you be most excited to hear? Do you have any predictions for Rosé’s upcoming music with Atlantic Records? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
It is all the rage to lose weight and is causing a stir for several reason. But can you have a a bit of a vape and chill while on it?
The latest weight loss trend has been the use of Ozempic. A Gallup poll suggested over 6% of adults in the US and Canada have tried it. So over 16+ million have given it a go. Amy Schumer, Kelly Clarkson, Sharon Osbourne, Chelsea Handler, Dolores Catania, Oprah, and Charles Barkley have all tried it. Millions of people struggle with weight and their body image. In the last 12 months 56% of women and almost 42% of men have tried to slim down. And the new hot drug is seen as the silver bullet. But what if you want to relax and chill out while taking it? Can you consume marijuana on Ozempic?
Some people enjoy eating, the taste of the food and the ritual of dining alone or with friends. Dieting and other weight loss programs are often seen as a punshment or negative. And if you want to chill out, alcohol usually interferes with a slimming routines due to sugar and how it is absorbed in the body. But marijuana is a different story. Ozempic works by mimicking a naturally occurring hormone. As those hormone levels rise, the molecules go to your brain, telling it you’re full. It also slows digestion by increasing the time it takes for food to leave the body. This is similar to the effect of bariatric surgery.
With limited research and data, it seems small amounts of alcohol, such as 1-2 drinks per day with food, are generally considered safe based on initial studies. However, alcohol is known to interfere with blood sugar control mechanisms, which Ozempic is aimed at improving. So there could be issue around the success of the routine.
Marijuana thought it different in its makeup and how the body absorbs it. Currently, there hasn’t be in research or data showing marijuana interferes with the drug. But, keep in mind Ozempic may interact with oral forms of cannabis (forms you swallow), such as tablets, capsules, gummies and other edibles.
The side effects can be troublesome and include nausea, vomiting, constipation, and at times diarrhea. These are related to the same concept regarding the movement of the bowels and the stomach. The benefits come somehow from the same pathway. Beyond gastrointestinal symptoms, the medication can also cause rash, gallbladder issues, abdominal pain. It is allows important to talk to health professional when starting something which can have an impact on your body and organs.
For the last few years, AleXa has ascended through the world of K-Pop. Adopting a cyberpunk aesthetic with hypnotic choreography, she’s racked up more than 160 million views on her YouTube channel.
Now, she’s aiming to carry that momentum into her home country of the United States. Raised in Oklahoma, she grew up loving musical theater and practicing ballet. American audiences got to know AleXa two years ago when she won the first and only season of American Song Contest. She formed a bond with cohost Kelly Clarkson, appearing as a guest on her show this January.
AleXa’s latest single “sick” leans away from dance pop in favor of a more pop-rock sound that recalls P!nk and Avril Lavigne. She looks forward to trying out new styles as she aims to grow her brand in the U.S.
Watch her talk to Jordan Edwards and Demi Ramos about her early days in Tulsa, rise in South Korea, and her favorite metal bands.
Plus, stick around for the new segment Demi’s Rising Stars featuring Ayleen Valentine.
AleXa on Life As An American K-Pop Star | It’s Real with Jordan and Demi
Kelly Clarkson has revealed she used a weight-loss medication to improve her health — but she wants people to know it’s not Ozempic.
During Monday’s broadcast of the singer’s talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, she interviewed Whoopi Goldberg about her weight loss. In recent months, both Clarkson, 42, and Goldberg, 68, have been the subject of online speculation about their slimmed-down figures.
Goldberg has already admitted to taking the drug Mounjaro, an anti-diabetic medication often used for weight loss.
“Every time I run into you, you look younger! You’re like Benjamin Button. It’s like crazy every time you walk in!” Clarkson complimented Goldberg during the interview.
Goldberg replied that she looked younger because of the weight she’s lost. The Sister Act star said she’s shed the weight of “almost two people.”
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She said prior to taking Mounjaro, she weighed 300 pounds. Clarkson said she was 203 pounds at her heaviest weight.
“I am doing that wonderful shot that works for folks who need some help, and it’s been really good for me,” Goldberg said.
Clarkson was quick to sympathize and said she’s also lost a considerable amount of weight using a form of medication.
“Mine is a different one than people assume, but I ended up having to do that too because my bloodwork got so bad,” Clarkson revealed. “Everybody thinks it’s Ozempic, and it’s not. It’s something else.”
Ozempic is also a diabetes drug and has been credited with helping many big-name celebrities lose weight in recent years, surging the drug’s popularity. The increased demand for Ozempic, and other similar drugs, has led to medication shortages in Canada and the U.S.
Though Clarkson did not specify what about her bloodwork was of concern, she said her doctors “chased me for two years” and encouraged her to use a weight-loss medication. Clarkson said she was “afraid” to take the unnamed drug because she had already been diagnosed with thyroid problems.
Regardless, Clarkson maintained she was never insecure or unhappy about her weight.
Goldberg and Clarkson said they now find it difficult to recognize themselves in photos or videos from when they were heavier.
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Goldberg said she was once approached by a woman who falsely believed the actor had been wearing a fat suit during her 2022 film Till, about the brutal lynching of Emmett Till. Goldberg said she was “indignant” after hearing the comment.
Clarkson said she herself looked like she was “about to die of a heart attack” when she was at her heaviest weight.
Last month, when Clarkson had actor Kevin James on her talk show, she revealed she’d been diagnosed as pre-diabetic before her weight loss, meaning she was at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Also in April, Clarkson told People magazine her on-the-go lifestyle in New York — as well as listening to her doctor — helped to keep her fit.
“Walking in the city is quite the workout,” she said. “And I’m really into infrared saunas right now. And I just got a cold plunge because everybody wore me down.”
Clarkson also added that she eats a “healthy mix” of foods and has a protein-focused diet.
Ozempic maker bringing weight-loss drug Wegovy to Canada
Let her have it. Photo: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson may have secured the ranch, but she’s still trying to get what’s hers from her ex-husband. The superstar filed a new lawsuit against Brandon Blackstock and his father’s management company on March 11, Billboard reports, claiming they’ve been operating as unlicensed talent agents since Blackstock began managing Clarkson in 2007. That allegation itself isn’t new, since Clarkson previously won $2.6 million from Blackstock and Starstruck Entertainment in a similar ruling from a California labor commissioner last November, but Clarkson’s previous complaint only reached back to 2017, and she only won back payment from four deals during that time. (The commissioner rejected Clarkson’s claim over The Kelly Clarkson Show because Clarkson’s licensed agents at CAA were also involved.) Now, Clarkson is suing for all of the commissions and fees since 2007.
The new case will play out in Los Angeles court, not the labor commissioner’s office. That’s a key difference, since Blackstock is currently appealing the labor commissioner’s decision in court with a hearing in August. If a judge sides in favor of Clarkson in this new case before Blackstock’s appeal goes to trial, Blackstock would be left with little standing. And, of course, Clarkson would be getting another cool seven-figure check.
With the benefit of hindsight, it’s possible to see how Kelly Clarkson began charting her present course 15 years ago, undertaking the shift from pop superstar to inescapable lifestyle brand.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of her fourth album, All I Ever Wanted, which followed the contentious release of her third album, 2007’s My December. A fraught project that found Clarkson pivoting from the comparatively breezy pop-rock of her first two records to embrace a darker, edgier style (in both presentation and subject matter), December deeply fractured Clarkson’s relationship with her label, RCA Records — so much so that 16 years later, while promoting her 2023 album Chemistry, she was still exchanging barbs in the press with former label head Clive Davis.
Given that Sturm und Drang, it was little surprise Wanted swung the pendulum back in the direction of easy, sunny and accessible. Wanted debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart and spun off three hit singles, not least of which was the chart-topping (and certifiable banger) “My Life Would Suck Without You.”
While Clarkson hasn’t really deviated much from the glossy pop playbook in the intervening years, Wanted was the first instance of the Burleson native giving the mainstream what it wanted — but on her terms.
That ironclad insistence on meeting the audience in a manner of her own choosing has allowed her to expand her footprint well beyond pop music, incorporating a regular network television presence (via her eponymous daily talk show and The Voice), as well as becoming a familiar face in advertisements for brands like Wayfair.
Released on March 6, 2009, All I Ever Wanted eventually sold over a million copies in the U.S. and earned Clarkson a Grammy nomination for best pop vocal album. She aligned herself with multiple A-list producers, including Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Howard Benson and Ryan Tedder, all of whom knew how to maximize Clarkson’s strengths as an artist and preserve her unique approach.
The sonic sensibility on display throughout Wanted skews guitar- and drum-heavy, filtered through major label glossiness — Clarkson’s vocal work, always impeccable and impressive, scales new heights here, particularly on “My Life Would Suck Without You,” which has the Texan nailing multiple octave leaps with ease.
“Already Gone,” its uncanny stylistic similarities to Beyonce’s “Halo” notwithstanding, also gave Clarkson, one of popular music’s all-time great balladeers, an immaculate, tear-stained close-up. It’s one of the more moving pop tracks of the mid-aughts — the way Clarkson’s voice breaks and catches just so on the line “I love you enough to let you go” never fails to induce goosebumps.
Lyrically, she doesn’t shy away from the messiness of relationships — the one true throughline of Clarkson’s entire output to date, up to and including her most recent release, Chemistry, which sifts through the ashes of her marriage to Brandon Blackstock — and offers up plenty of memorable lines (“I know that I’ve got issues/But you’re pretty messed up too/Either way I found out/I’m nothin’ without you,” Clarkson sings on “My Life Would Suck Without You,” as zippy an ode to toxic co-dependence as you’ll find).
Critics believed Wanted recovered Clarkson’s footing as a pop star of consequence: “All I Ever Wanted is a masterful rapprochement with the mainstream, full of cheerfully ear-snagging tunes, inventive production, exhilarating vocals, and enough inherent Kelly-ness to put aside fears that her label bosses implanted blonde electrodes in her brain to make her behave,” said Ann Powers in the Los Angeles Times.
Rolling Stone’s Jody Rosen concurred, to a point: “‘My Life Would Suck Without You’ is a kind of repentance, a chastened pop star’s retreat from auteurdom. It’s also, as it turns out, fantastic — the early favorite for single of the year. It’s hard to match that thunderclap opening, but Clarkson does, for a couple of songs, at least.”
That said, it wasn’t universal raves: “If her first album was the Obligation, her second the Breakthrough and her third the Reaction, then All I Ever Wanted plays out as Ms. Clarkson’s Concession,” observed the New York Times’ Jon Caramanica, in an assessment splitting the difference between praise and dismissal.
The range of critical reaction aside, what’s more troubling upon reflection is how My December was treated less like a choice made by an artist who wanted to explore a different direction than something a petulant pop star just needed to get out of her system. In that way, listeners can feel the bared teeth in Wanted tracks like “I Do Not Hook Up” or “Don’t Let Me Stop You” — she might have let in the sunshine, but the sentiment was unchanged.
The follow-up to Wanted, 2011’s Stronger, seemed to split the difference between sunshine and seething — hits like the anthemic title track “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” or the luminous “Dark Side” — were less revolutionary than a refinement. In time, Clarkson would deliver her first holiday album (2013’s Wrapped in Red) and continue threading the needle between anguish and uplift (2015’s Piece by Piece; 2017’s Meaning of Life), building a formidable fan base in the process.
That take-it-or-leave-it attitude, which colored My December, but was more channeled into All I Ever Wanted, is the foundation of the now-41-year-old pop star’s career. By dictating the terms of her creative participation in the music business — to the extent such a thing is possible, anyway — Clarkson has enabled herself to grow and change and remain true to herself, avoiding the trap of being locked into a particular sound or style, while also being allowed to not only have a life, but to find creative inspiration in areas beyond music.
Looking back, what can seem a sop to staying put amid the A-listers at the time seems less like copping out than seeing around the curve. Kelly Clarkson has long accommodated pop stardom on no else’s terms but her own, and even the glossiest songs in her catalog sparkle less from sunshine than the glinting reflection from her steely, unshakeable determination to answer to only herself.
The “American Idol” alum first filed for divorce in 2020 after seven years of marriage.
“I never wanted to get married the first time,” she told People in an interview published this week. “[Brandon] had children, a religious background, and it was important, I think, for him. But I’ve never been that person. Because I’ve been through a couple divorces in my family, I just don’t like to put any weight on it.”
“It can happen; it doesn’t have to happen,” she said, when asked if she’d consider getting married again. “For my kids, I definitely would never even think about it until they’re out of my house.”
The exes share two young children — daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington Alexander, 7.
On a 2020 episode of her eponymous daytime talk show, Clarkson said she “definitely didn’t see anything coming that came,” in her regards to the end of her marriage.
“Divorce is never easy, and we’re both from divorced families, so, you know, we know the best thing here is to protect our children and their little hearts,” the “Stronger” singer said at the time.
In March 2022, Clarkson was ordered to pay her ex a one-time payment of just over $1.32 million, monthly installments of $115,000 in spousal support until Jan. 31, 2024, and $45,601 monthly in child support for their kids.
But in November 2023, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement ruled that Blackstock had to return more than $2.6 million to Clarkson for fees he took out from her projects when he was her manager.
As far as her future love life is concerned, Clarkson isn’t ruling out romance again — but it will be on her terms.
“I told a friend [that a potential partner] would have to be an individual that brings their own life to the table without needing anything from me,” she shared.
It’s tiiiiiiimmmeee! Following Mariah Carey’s annual announcement, the holiday season has officially begun.
Whether you’re decking the halls or writing your Christmas list, we all know the best way to get into the festive spirit is by listening to some iconic Christmas tunes. From classic carols to merry pop, heartwarming country, and jingle bell jazz, we’ve picked out the 20 best Christmas albums (in no particular order) to help you start this year’s countdown to December 25!
No Christmas is complete without the queen of the holiday season herself, Mariah Carey! Released in 1994, this album is best known for the hit single “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” which went on to become one of the best-selling Christmas songs of all time. The album also features classics like “Silent Night” and “Joy To The World,” where Carey’s vocals bring a fresh touch to these memorable carols.
19. Taylor Swift – ‘The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection’
We’ll never forget Taylor Swift’s Christmas era! Consisting of six tracks, including two originals from Swift, The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection perfectly showcases the singer-songwriter’s incredible vocals and ingenious writing skills. This is truly the Christmas album of our “Wildest Dreams.”
18. Frank Sinatra – ‘A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra’
The album may have been released 66 years ago, but A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra never fails to put us in the festive mood. From “Jingle Bells” to “The First Noel,” Frank Sinatra’s smooth vocals are guaranteed to make you feel so warm and nostalgic. Whether you’re sipping a hot cocoa or tucking into a festive feast, this timeless classic is a staple of any good Christmas playlist!
17. Michael Bublé – ‘Christmas’
Considered a modern holiday classic, Michael Bublé’s Christmas album gives us a jazzy take on some of our all-time favorite festive bops. Having sold over 12 million copies worldwide, this album proved itself to be the perfect soundtrack for Christmas. Following its huge success, the album was re-released in 2012 and saw Bublé team up with artists like Shania Twain and Rod Stewart. Now, that’s what we call a dream team!
16. Elvis Presley – ‘Elvis’ Christmas Album’
Elvis’ Christmas Album was a huge success and has remained a Christmas staple for nearly 70 years. Songs like “Blue Christmas” allowed Elvis to merge his iconic rock ‘n’ roll sound with the cozy vibes of the holiday season, making it an instant Christmas classic for years to come.
15. Kelly Clarkson – ‘Wrapped In Red’
With powerful vocals and iconic Christmas anthems, Kelly Clarkson’sWrapped In Red is an essential listen. While Clarkson may be defined by her pop-rock sound, she drew inspiration from a variety of different genres to create the perfect holiday vibe for her first Christmas album. So, whether you like jazz, country, or soul, Wrapped In Red has something for everyone!
With a unique blend of country and pop, Kacey Musgraves brought an acoustic and modern feel to Christmas with her 2016 album A Very Kacey Christmas. Accompanied by artists such as Willie Nelson and Leon Bridges, Musgraves’ dreamy album is the only Christmas gift we need this year!
13. Stevie Wonder – ‘Someday At Christmas’
Looking for festive R&B songs? We’ve got you covered! Released as his first Christmas album, Stevie Wonder’s Someday At Christmas is a unique take on holiday music. Wonder’s soulful voice and beautiful melodies are the perfect treat for your ears this Christmas.
12. Bob Dylan – ‘Christmas In the Heart’
Releasing a Christmas album is probably the last thing you’d expect of folk legend Bob Dylan, but that’s exactly what he did back in 2009. His alternative takes on certain Christmas classics are perfect for anyone looking to break from the usual holiday traditions this year — with the single “Must Be Santa” being a particular standout with critics. And in the true spirit of Christmas, Dylan donated all his royalties from the album to many charities, such as the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
11. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton – ‘Once Upon a Christmas’
Yes, that’s right — the “Islands In the Stream” duo joined forces once again, and this time it was in the name of Christmas! In songs like “A Christmas To Remember” and “With Bells On,” the famous match-made-in-heaven harmonies of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton proved to be the perfect Christmas gift, with the album being certified platinum twice.
10. Nat King Cole – ‘The Magic of Christmas’
If it’s a nostalgic Christmas vibe you’re going for this year, then look no further than the best-selling Christmas album of the ’60s! Let tracks like “Joy To The World” and “Deck The Halls” fill your home with merriness, as you wish for a holiday season as smooth as Nat King Cole’s voice.
9. Vince Guaraldi Trio – ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Charlie Brown and Christmas music? Sign us up! Released in 1965, A Charlie Brown Christmas blends together the fun of our favorite characters from ‘Peanuts’ with the joyful sounds of Christmas music. It may have been released in 1965, but this jazzy little album is sure to warm your heart this festive season.
8. The Beach Boys – ‘The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album’
It’s time to take Christmas to the beach. On this album, the sun-kissed harmonies of The Beach Boys will have you exchanging snow for sand, sleighs for surfboards, and warm winter coats for swimsuits. But don’t be fooled — with original holiday-themed tracks like “Little Saint Nick” and “The Man With All The Toys,” this album is as Christmas as it gets!
7. Bing Crosby – ‘Merry Christmas’
With his version of “White Christmas” being the best-selling physical single of all time with over 50 million sales, we think it’s safe to crown Bing Crosby as the King of Christmas. This gift of an album doesn’t stop there with the classics though, as Crosby can also be heard crooning other holiday hits like “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Clause Is Coming To Town.”
6. Justin Bieber – ‘Under The Mistletoe’
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” also makes an appearance on Justin Bieber’s first Christmas and second-ever album, Under The Mistletoe. The two singers turned the song into a duet and gave it more of an electric-pop flare. The festive music video, which has had over 222 million views to date, features both Carey and Bieber in a fun Christmas mall setting.
5. Emmylou Harris – ‘Light Of The Stable’
Released in 1979, Emmylou Harris’ Light Of The Stable takes traditional Christmas carols and turns them into country tunes. Harris’ angelic voice perfectly compliments the sounds of the festive season, transporting her listeners to the ultimate winter wonderland.
4. Sufjan Stevens – ‘Songs For Christmas’
A fun collection of holiday tunes, Songs For Christmas by Sufjan Stevens is the perfect soundtrack to all your festive activities. Made up of five separate EPs, Songs For Christmas is a wholly unique and interesting take on Christmas music. With original memorable songs like “That Was The Worst Christmas Ever!” and “Come On! Let’s Boogey To The Elf Dance!,” you’re sure to love this 42-track collection!
3. Ariana Grande – ‘Christmas Kisses’
Ariana Grande may be known for her unforgettable pop music, but did you know that she also makes incredible holiday music? Best known for the hit single “Santa Tell Me,” Christmas Kisses brings a touch of love and romance to the festive season, and is an absolute essential on any December playlist!
2. Ella Fitzgerald – ‘Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas’
With her signature vocals and impeccable jazz arrangements, Ella Fitzgerald’s Ella Wishes You A Swinging Christmas is a timeless classic. Fitzgerald brings a touch of personality and unique style to these iconic holiday tunes. This is best seen in her rendition of “Jingle Bells,” where she hilariously exclaims, “I’m just crazy about horses” at the end of the song. With Ella Fitzgerald, your Christmas is sure to be a swinging one!
1. John Legend – ‘A Legendary Christmas’
A John Legend holiday album has always been at the top of our Christmas list, so you can imagine how excited we were for the release of A Legendary Christmas back in 2018. Legend’s soulful vocals create a feeling of nostalgia and coziness that is just perfect for this time of year. We guarantee that you’ll be listening to this one for years to come!
GRAMMY® and Emmy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and television host Kelly Clarkson launches her own exclusive year-round SiriusXM channel, Kelly Clarkson Connection (Ch. 12), taking listeners on a journey through both her music and music from her favorite artists.
“Music is such a personal experience for all of us, and I am stoked to have the opportunity to curate a channel of all of my favorites,” Kelly shared. “I hope that people tune in and enjoy it as much as I loved making it!”
Kelly Clarkson Connection
How to Listen
Kelly Clarkson connection is available in car radios on channel 12 and the SiriusXM app.
What You’ll Hear
The new exclusive channel welcomes listeners into Kelly Clarkson’s world. When tuning in, you’re surrounded by the music she loves, music she’s inspired by, and the stories behind the music from Kelly’s two-decade-long catalog of award-winning hits.
Listeners will also hear from members of Kelly’s band and lots of on-air celebration of Christmas.
Since it debuted in 2011, there have been more than a dozen coaches on The Voice, from country crooners like Blake Shelton to pop heartthrobs like Nick Jonas. Each judge (and contestant) is different, which is why The Voice salaries and how much coaches make per season on the NBC show aren’t the same either.
Of The Voice‘s 19-plus seasons, Shelton was the longest-serving—from its premiere season until season 23—so it’s assumed that he earned the most. Still, that isn’t to say that the other coaches make pennies. Each judge on The Voice—from Alicia Keys to Adam Levine—has had an esteemed career. And while The Voice hasn’t produced any household names (like, say, American Idol), the show has succeeded in bringing on top-tier talent for its coaches.
Levine told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe in 2019 about how The Voice changed Maroon 5’s career and made him a household name. “I think when the band made [first album Songs About Jane] and had that all going on in the early 2000s, I think I was really young and also, it was a different time,” he said, noting that “not everyone had a camera on them at all times and you enjoyed a certain kind of privacy,” he said. “Then being on The Voice and stuff really changed that even more. It kind of launched me into the bizarre territory of being, I guess for lack of a better phrase, a household name.” Ahead, find out TheVoice salaries and how much each coach made on their season.
What are The Voice salaries and how much do coaches make per season? Read on for what The Voice salaries are for coaches like Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson and more, and how much they made.
Blake Shelton (Seasons 1 – 23)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $13 million per season
It’s unclear how much Shelton made in his first season on The Voice, but in 2016, around the same time as The Voice season 10, The Wrap reported that Shelton signed a deal with NBC to receive $13 million per season. Given that The Voice has two seasons a year, that means that Shelton rakes in an impressive $26 million a year—and maybe more if he’s signed a new deal since 2016. Celebrity Insider reported in 2019 that Shelton and his girlfriend, Gwen Stefan, received “an exceptional bonus to keep the spark alive on-camera” The source also noted that the bump made Shelton and Stefani’s salaries “significantly higher” than those of the other coaches.
Adam Levine (Seasons 1 – 16)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $14 million per season
Like Shelton, Levine was also an OG coach on The Voice. He left after season 16, but in 2016, The Wrap reported that he signed the same deal as Shelton to receive $13 million per season ($26 million a year.) However, after Levine quit The Voice, The Hollywood Reporter claimed that his salary was even higher at more than $14 million per season and close to $30 million a year.
Christina Aguilera (Seasons 1 – 3, 5, 8, 10)
Salary: $12.5 million – $17 million per season
The Wrap reported in 2014 that Aguilera made $17 million a season as a Voice coach in season 3 (much more than Levine and Shelton). The “Genie in a Bottle” singer quit after that season but returned in season 5, where she took a pay cut, according to The Wrap. For that season and onward, The Wrap reported that she earned $12.5 million a season.
CeeLo Green (Seasons 1 – 3, 5)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $2 million – $6.5 million per season
CeeLo was one of the OG coaches of The Voice. He left after season 5, claiming that the show “quickly became a job.” Money Nation reported that the singer made $2 million for his first season, which makes sense given that he was less of a household name as the other coaches. By the time he left, though, CeeLo was able to receive a raise, which made his paychecks $6.5 million a season.
Shakira (Season 4, 6)
Salary: $12 million per season
Shakira never won a season on The Voice, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t walk away with an impressive paycheck. The Hollywood Reporter claimed in 2012 that Shakira signed a deal for $12 million a season, which was a lot for a coach on the early seasons of The Voice. It’s unclear if she received a pay raise when she returned for season 6, but if she did, she would’ve likely made around the same $14 million salary as Levine and Shelton.
Usher (Season 4, 6)
Image: NBC
Salary: $7 million per season
Usher starred on the same two seasons as Shakira, but he made about half her salary. The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the “Yeah” singer made $7 million per season when he signed on in season 4. It’s unclear how much he made to return to The Voice in season 6, but it still likely wouldn’t have been close to any of the other coaches’ salaries.
Gwen Stefani (Seasons 7, 9, 12, 17, 19, 22-24)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $13 million per season
Stefani became a Voice coach in season 7 and was paid $10 million a season at the time, according to CinemaBlend. However, the No Doubt singer received a $5 raise in season 12 after she and Shelton signed a deal to play up their romance for the cameras, which made her salary $13 million a season. It’s unclear how much Stefani received from The Voice to return as a coach for season 17 (Celebrity Insider reported that she and Shelton received another raise to show their romance onscreen), so it’s likely that she and Shelton earn around the $15 million mark.
Pharrell Williams (Seasons 7 – 10)
Image; Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $8 million per season
Feel Guide reported in 2014 that Pharrell signed a deal for $8 million a season when he debuted as a Voice coach in season 7. It isn’t known whether he received a pay bump for his later seasons, but given his lower salary when he started, it’s unlikely that his pay would’ve matched that of Shelton or Levine.
Miley Cyrus (Seasons 11, 13)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $13 million per season
Cyrus was a Voice coach for seasons 11 and 13. Money Nation reports that the “Malibu” singer made $13 million a season for both seasons, which is a little less than what OGs Levine and Shelton made.
Alicia Keys (Seasons 11 – 12, 14)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $8 million per season
Money Nation reported in 2016 that Keys made $8 million a season, when she signed on as a Voice coach in season 11. The number isn’t as large as what Levine or Shelton made at the time, but it’s around the same as the pay of other non-OG voice coaches, like Pharrell and Usher.
Jennifer Hudson (Seasons 13, 15)
Image: Justin Lubin/NBC.
Salary: $8 million
There haven’t been any reports about what Hudson made on The Voice. But given that she’s an Oscar winner and a bonafide pop star, it’s likely that she made around the $8 million mark for her two seasons on the NBC singing competition. Given the salaries of her predecessors, it’s unlikely that she made more or even close to the salaries of OGs like Levine and Shelton, but we don’t estimate that Hudson’s salary was on the lower end either. Money Nation also reported in 2016 that first-time Voice judges make around $8 million for their first seasons.
Kelly Clarkson (Seasons 14 – 21, 23)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $15 million per season
When Clarkson debuted as a Voice coach in season 14, Radar Online reported that the American Idol winner signed a deal to receive $15 million per season (a.k.a. $28 million a year.) It’s unclear if the “Since U Been Gone” singer has received a raise since then (she has won three seasons), but if she has, her paycheck could likely be the highest of any Voice coach.
John Legend (Seasons 16 – 22)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $13 million per season
It’s also unclear what Legend makes as a coach on The Voice. He signed on in season 16 and is a current coach on season 18. He’s also the first EGOT to be a coach on The Voice, which must earn him something, given that the man has about a bajillion Grammys. According to OK! magazine, he made $13 million per season as a judge.
Nick Jonas (Seasons 18, Season 20)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $8 million
Season 18 marked Jonas’ first season as a Voice coach, so there’s little information about how much he was paid for the role. He’s also one of the younger singers to star on The Voice, so he could make a similar salary to Cyrus—$13 million—though that’s unlikely. Given his career, we estimate that he makes around the $8 to $10 million mark. Money Nation also reported in 2016 that first-time Voice judges make around $8 million for their first seasons.
Ariana Grande (Season 21)
Image: Trae Patton/NBC.
Salary: $20 – $25 million per season
Grande announced that she will be a judge on The Voice season 21 in an instagram post in March 2021. “surprise !!! i am beyond thrilled, honored, excited to be joining @kellyclarkson @johnlegend @blakeshelton next season ~ season 21 of @nbcthevoice ! 🤍 @nickjonas we will miss you,” she wrote at the time. According to OK magazine, she will be paid $20 to $25 million for the season, which makes her the highest paid judge ever on The Voice. “Ariana is getting in the $20 to $25 million range to join the show,” a source told OK!, comparing the deal to Kelly Clarkson who “negotiated a whopping $15 million when she joined the show.”
Camila Cabello (Season 22)
Image: Tyler Golden/NBC.
Salary: $8 million
Cabello made her debut on The Voice in September 2022 on season 22. While Cabello’s Voice salary hasn’t been confirmed, Money Nation reported in 2016 that first-time Voice judges make around $8 million for their first seasons.
Niall Horan (Season 23, 24)
Image: Art Streiber/NBC.
Salary: $8 million
Horan made his debut on The Voice in March 2023 as a coach on season 23. While his salary hasn’t been confirmed, The Sun reported that he was expected to make around $8 million per season, which is what other Voice coaches made for their first seasons. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Horan is worth $70 million.
Chance the Rapper (Season 23)
Image: Art Streiber/NBC.
Salary: $8 million
Chance the Rapper made his debut on The Voice in March 2023 as a coach on season 23. While Chance the Rapper’s salary hasn’t been confirmed, The Sun reported that he was expected to make $8 million per season, which is the starting salary for most Voice coaches for their first season.
Reba McEntire (Season 24)
Image: NBC
Salary: $13 million
It hasn’t been publicly disclosed how much Reba McEntire makes per season of The Voice, but we can assume it hovers around the $13 million mark because that’s the average salary for hosts. McEntire replaced Shelton after he announced he was leaving after season 23. It matches what Shelton was being paid, too, and while $8 million is commonly the starting salary, McEntire has been a fixture on the show in other capacities.
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Following 10 sold-out performances of her exclusive Las Vegas engagement, chemistry…an intimate night with Kelly Clarkson, this past summer, GRAMMY Award-winning global superstar Kelly Clarkson will return to Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino for four shows over New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl weekends.
Join Kelly and her longtime band as they perform music spanning her two-decade-long career with hits like “Breakaway,” “Heartbeat Song,” “Miss Independent,” “Stronger,” “Since You Been Gone,” and many more, plus covers of songs from other artists as well as numbers from her newest album, chemistry.
Kelly Clarkson Las Vegas Engagement Presale Tickets
SiriusXM subscribers can access a special presale starting October 25 at 10am PT and continuing through October 26 at 10pm PT by using password SIRIUSXM. Tickets go on sale to the general public on October 27 at 10am PT.
On October 21, 2023, the “Stronger” singer took to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to respond to claims that she was taking shots at Swift and Kelce’s budding romance during a recent episode of her daytime talk show. “Just a quick public service announcement everybody since this seems to be breaking news…” Clarkson began her message. “Do not fall prey to clickbait, trash reporters twisting the facts again. I did not bash anyone’s romance. I am pro romance. Yay romance.”
She continued, “Did y’all even watch what I actually said on my show? I just said I want to watch football when I tune in to watch football. Seems an appropriate request. Okay, carry on, and GO COWBOYS!”
Clarkson’s clarification comes just days after she joked about Swift and Kelce’s relationship on her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. She talked about all the recent NFL coverage of the pair with her guest star, Saturday Night Live comedian Bowen Yang, during an episode that aired on October 19, 2023.
“It’s not hilarious how it is literally taking over the NFL for people that like watching sports now. It’s like you’re watching Housewives while you’re watching,” she said. “They’re just talking about gossip things and you’re like, ‘So, what about the play?’”
As for Swift and Kelce, the pair’s romance has continued to make headlines ever since they seemingly confirmed their relationship at Kelce’s home game with Kansas City Chiefs on September 24, 2023. Swift attended the game at Arrowhead Stadium, where she was photographed cheering side by side with Kelce’s mom, Donna. In the weeks to follow, the “Cruel Summer” singer has been spotted at a number of games in support of the Chiefs tight end.
Swift and Kelce have also started taking their relationship outside of the stadium. The pair recently spent the weekend together in New York City, appearing separately on Saturday Night Live and later stepping out in the city for a PDA-filled date night. During a recent episode of his “New Heights” podcast with his brother, fellow NFL player Jason Kelce, Swift’s beau even hinted at his weekend with the Midnights singer.
Kelce’s brother asked him about his experience with Swift’s security team. He described the singer’s security detail as “great,” but still admitted that his own protective instincts were kicking in while they were together. “I feel like whenever I’m on a date I’m always having the sense of like, I’m a man in the situation, I’m like protective, yeah for sure,” Kelce said. “You always kind of have that feeling, or that self-awareness, I guess.”
A source who spoke to Us Weekly seemed to confirm that Swift appreciates Kelce’s protective nature. “He makes her feel safe and protected, and at the same time, he supports her independence and success,” the source said. “Things are going really well.”
The insider also shared that Swift is already “falling for him.” “Travis is different from anybody Taylor has dated before, and she is falling for him more and more as the days go by,” the source added. “[He] goes out of his way to make Taylor feel special in any way he can.”
People shared a similar report from Kelce’s point of view, with one source telling the publication, “Taylor’s unlike anyone Travis has dated before. It was very unexpected for his friends, but he’s so into her and very, very happy.”
“Some people thought he was just joking around about the bracelet and having a crush on her earlier this summer, but he was serious about it,” the source continued, referring to Kelce’s viral comments about trying to give Swift a bracelet with his phone number on it when she performed at Arrowhead Stadium during the summer of 2023. “[They’re] having a great time getting to know one another [and] have introduced some of their friends to each other.” No bashing there, at least!
Troye Sivan admitted he purposely trolled Kelly Clarkson earlier this year after accusing her of dissing him in her song “Mine”.
The topic was recently brought up during a lie detector test Sivan took for Vanity Fair, in which he addressed their fake beef.
In April, the Australian singer uploaded a TikTok questioning what he ever did to Clarkson for her to diss him in her song, which includes a lyric that sounds like she’s singing, “You’re Troye Sivan. Who the hell do you think you are,” but actually doesn’t.
Elsewhere during the lie detector test, which Sivan passed with flying colours, the “Rush” singer revealed his (unavailable) celebrity crush, whether he likes how Drake’s house is decorated, his thoughts on Lady Gaga’s acting and more. He even made a surprising revelation about Cher’s career and named his favourite female collaborators.
Watch Sivan’s lie detector test in the clip below.
Crying at Kelly Clarkson’s Las Vegas residency was something I fully expected to happen. But what I didn’t anticipate was the cathartic journey I would embark on. On Aug. 2, the three-time Grammy winner performed her third show of “Chemistry… An Intimate Night With Kelly Clarkson” at Planet Hollywood’s Bakkt Theater. And similarly to her latest album, which her residency is named after, Clarkson took the audience through an array of emotions as she reflected on the highs and low of love while immersing the crowd in music that spanned her two-decades-long career.
Clarkson kicked off the night with one of her newer songs, “Favorite Kind of High,” before diving into a medley of some of her greatest hits, including “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” “My Life Would Suck Without You,” “I Do Not Hook Up,” “Catch My Breath,” and “Because of You.”
“There’s something so special and cool about music. It’s so powerful. Everybody in this room might not know everybody, but you’re here for a good time, escapism, to hear some good music,” Clarkson told the crowd. “I think that’s awesome. That’s the coolest thing about music, is to be able to heal.”
The 41-year-old singer also performed her favorite song from the “Chemistry” album, “Lighthouse,” which is about the end of her relationship with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, whom she split from in 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage. In March 2022, the former couple settled their divorce, and they share joint custody of their two kids, River, 9, and Remington, 7. Clarkson prefaced the track by saying, “It’s super depressing, I’m just going to be real with you. I was on a flight like 30,000 feet in the air and I was just really sad, ’cause you fall in love and you think it’s going to last. Nobody plans on it [exploding], but it happens.”
She continued: “Anyway, this song, for me personally, writing it was like, ‘OK, I can’t. There’s no more try. I don’t have anymore try left.’ You’re really empty and you feel like your light is just about out.”
However, Clarkson once again made it clear that “Chemistry” is not a divorce album. “The whole point of this album was not to be some kind of divorce record. Yes, very angry. There’s a lot of sadness there, there’s a lot of that there, but there’s also moments for me that were beautiful and real and felt like fighting for,” Clarkson said before launching into “Magic.” “This next song is so magical,” she continued. “Relationships are hard, but there’s that thing that keeps you coming back and just wading through the red flags, and it’s called magic, and I had never felt that before in my whole life. And I know that it’s been a rough one for me and my family, but the fact that I get to die having felt that is pretty cool, ’cause not everybody gets to feel that.”
Still, perhaps the most emotional moment of the entire night was when Clarkson brought out 11-year-old singer Sadaya Paige to perform a duet of Andra Day’s “Rise Up.” “I fell in love with this little girl. She came on my talk show, and she’s so powerful. She’s this little, tiny thing, but she is so powerful and just breaks your heart in the most beautiful way. The kind of soulful singing that you hear that if you don’t feel moved, you need to get help cause you’re dead inside,” Clarkson said just moments before Sadaya walked out on stage accompanied by her mom, Dora J.
Clarkson was first introduced to the blind singer when she appeared on an episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” back in March, and it’s safe to say there were no dry eyes in the theater after their performance. “A lot of people can sing, but not a lot of people move you. I say that a lot, especially on ‘The Voice,’ but I mean it. There’s not a lot of people that can really move you and do something so powerful that it’s unexplainable,” Clarkson told the crowd.
Of the special moment, Sadaya’s mom, Dora, told POPSUGAR that her daughter “felt like she was living her dream.” “Her dream has always been to sing on stage in front of thousands of people, and Kelly made that happen,” she explained. “Sadaya felt and heard the entire audience’s positive vibrations of cheer and applaud. She says it was the most amazing experience ever.” Dora also shared some words of inspiration from Sadaya herself, adding, “‘No matter what differences or disabilities you may have, you can do anything you put your mind to and never give up. Just remember to stay magical!’”
Clarkson closed out the night by singing a few more of her hits, along with some of her newer material, including her son’s favorite song, “Whole Lotta Woman,” and her daughter’s favorite, “Heartbeat Song.” “Thank you so much for singing along,” Clarkson said to the audience. “You have no idea how powerful that is for someone to go through something and connect with people. And I’m sorry if you relate to it, but if you’re human, you probably relate to it, you’ve probably been through something similar. Anyway, I just want to say thank you. It’s really special, and it feels almost like a spiritual place you go to, where everybody is connecting and singing together. Thank you.”
From start to finish, Clarkson’s show felt like the therapy session I needed. I laughed, I cried, and I sang my heart out — all within the span of two hours. Regardless of whether you’re her number one fan or not, Clarkson’s residency is definitely a must see if you’re in Vegas anytime soon. Limited tickets are still available for the remaining shows on Aug. 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 18, and 19 on Ticketmaster.
NEW YORK (AP) — Pop star Kesha and producer Dr. Luke have settled nearly a decade of suits and countersuits over her accusation that he drugged and raped her and his claim that she made it up and defamed him, they announced Thursday, with the singer saying that “only God knows what happened that night.”
Dr. Luke, meanwhile, said he was “absolutely certain that nothing happened. I never drugged or assaulted her.”
Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, as both she and he revealed on Instagram that they had agreed to “a resolution” of the case and to a statement from each of them. Messages seeking comment were sent to their attorneys.
A man who was part of a group of teenagers wrongly accused and imprisoned for the rape of a woman in Central Park has taken a commanding lead in a Democratic primary for a New York City Council seat.
A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general.
Air travelers have been putting up with widespread delays all month, and it’s continuing again, as bad weather rakes the Northeast.
Spirits giant Diageo says it’s cutting ties with Sean “Diddy” Combs after the rapper and entrepreneur sued the company over allegations of racism in the handling of his liquor brands, according to a Tuesday court filing.
“I cannot recount everything that happened,” Kesha wrote, adding that she wishes “nothing but peace to all parties involved.”
Dr. Luke, in turn, said he wished her well and wanted “to put this difficult matter behind me” after years of fighting to clear his name.
The deal averts a trial that had been scheduled for this summer over allegations that became a #MeToo cause for Kesha’s supporters and came to involve a lineup of music industry luminaries. Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Katy Perry, Pink, Avril Lavigne, Adam Levine and Taio Cruz are among those who gave testimony or sworn statements related to the case.
At the same time, the case raised important legal questions about fame and defamation. The stakes were seen as high enough that media outlets weighed in about pretrial rulings that they worried could help powerful people suppress unflattering reporting.
The court clash between the multiplatinum-selling singer and the Grammy-nominated producer has been playing out since 2014 and looming over both of their careers.
The Associated Press does not generally name people who report being sexually assaulted unless they come forward publicly, as Kesha has done.
The singer made her name — originally styled Ke$ha — with a series of swaggering, just-try-to-stop-me party anthems, beginning with 2009’s “TiK ToK.” Those early hits were produced by Dr. Luke, who founded the record label that signed a Nashville unknown named Kesha Rose Sebert at age 18.
Born Lukasz Gottwald, he has produced chart-toppers for Perry, Lavigne, Flo Rida and more. Besides notching multiple Grammy nominations, Dr. Luke has repeatedly won pop songwriter of the year awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.
Kesha sued him in 2014, alleging he drugged and raped her nine years earlier and psychologically tormented her throughout their working relationship. She said he harangued her about her weight, denigrated her voice and lorded his power over her career.
“The abuse I suffered from Luke was a decade long, every day, every moment of every day,” she said during sworn questioning in 2017. According to Kesha, the ordeal sparked a flare-up of an eating disorder that led to her spending two months in a rehabilitation clinic in 2014.
Dr. Luke, who has not been charged with any crimes, responded by suing Kesha. He has asserted that she made “completely untrue and deeply hurtful” claims to tarnish him and get out of her record contract.
“Any reasonable person will not believe her,” he said when questioned under oath in 2017.
His attorneys have noted that Kesha herself said he “never made sexual advances at me” during sworn questioning in a separate lawsuit in 2011. She has since said she was “not entirely transparent” in those 2011 statements because she was terrified of Dr. Luke and felt compelled to protect him.
Kesha went five years without releasing an album during the standoff, saying she could not work with a “monster” but couldn’t get away from him because she was under contract with his label. His lawyers and the label’s attorneys maintained that she did not have to work with him personally.
She eventually returned with 2017’s “Rainbow” and two subsequent albums, all with other producers. Her most recent album, “Gag Order,” came out in May.
Dr. Luke’s career also took a hit after she went public with her allegations. He has said various artists, particularly female ones, eschewed “working with someone who’s called a rapist.”
But under the name Tyson Trax, he made it back to the top of the charts in 2020 with Doja Cat’s “Say So,” garnering his first Grammy nomination since 2014. By this year, he was ASCAP’s pop songwriter of the year once again.
Along the way, Kesha’s sexual abuse-related claims were dismissed because of time limits and other legal issues, without any findings about the merits of the allegations themselves. But she countersued Dr. Luke under a New York law against bringing frivolous suits to try to intimidate critics into silence; New York’s highest court recently ruled that she could pursue those claims.
The top court, which New York calls the Court of Appeals, also declared that Dr. Luke is a “public figure” in the eyes of the law. That’s significant because the legal requirements for proving defamation are tougher for public figures than for everyday people.
Lower courts had said the producer wasn’t a public figure. Over a dozen media outlets and organizations got involved in the case to argue that those earlier rulings could end up helping famous people squash free speech and reporting on sexual abuse allegations.
Earlier in the case, Kesha was ordered to pay Dr. Luke more than $373,000 in interest on royalties she paid him years late.
Kelly Clarkson, the Grammy Award-winning singer and judge of NBC’s “The Voice,” is speaking out after a bombshell report depicting a hostile, “toxic” staff environment at her namesake talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
In the report, which was originally published by Rolling Stone last week, former employees allege they were overworked and underpaid, calling the environment “traumatizing to their mental health” and noted that Clarkson “was clueless” about everything that went on behind closed doors.
The news rattled fans and, it appears, Clarkson herself.
“Kelly [Clarkson] is fantastic. She is a person who never treats anyone with anything but dignity and is incredibly appreciative,” one former employee of the show, who chose to remain anonymous, told the outlet. “I would be shocked if she knew. I’d be floored if she knew the staff wasn’t getting paid for two weeks of Christmas hiatus. The Kelly that I interacted with and that everyone knows would probably be pretty aghast to learn that.”
Other anonymous employees blamed higher management and executive producer Alex Duda for allegedly fostering an environment that had direct detriments to employees’ mental health.
“It deterred me from wanting to work in daytime ever again,” one employee said frankly. “When I say I was traumatized, I was really traumatized … [It was] by far the worst experience I’ve ever had in my entire life.”
Clarkson responded swiftly to the accusations on her personal social media accounts in a series of notes on Instagram to her 6.6 million followers.
“I’ve always led with my heart and what I believe to be right,” Clarkson wrote about her show which first aired in 2019. “To find out that anyone is feeling unheard and or disrespected on this show is unacceptable.”
Clarkson went on to disclose that the show will be moving its filming location to the East Coast from the Universal Studios Lot in California. The next season of the show is set to film at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.
She went on to say that senior staff, including herself, will undergo leadership training and made clear that “any notion of toxicity will be eradicated.”
“I am more committed than ever to making sure that not only our team that is moving but also our new team in NY, is compromised of the best and kindest in the business,” she penned.
Clarkson’s post had received over 289,619 likes as of Monday afternoon.
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