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One of Kelly Clarkson’s biggest hits is “Since U Been Gone,” which former RCA Records boss Clive Davis said in his memoir the singer didn’t originally want to record.
However, the talk show host fills in gaps in the story and gives her version of events, saying she was “lied to” while writing the song.
“Well, here’s why. Let’s give you some backstory, Davis. “I was lied to,” Clarkson said during his appearance on Watch What Happens Live, after host Andy Cohen explained that Davis had said in his memoir that Clarkson pushed back on the song’s inclusion on her album.
She continued, “They said to me, ‘Hey, there are these producers that want to work with you, and there’s this song that had wrong lyrics. They didn’t really have lyrics yet. They said, “Oh, we just want you to work with them.” And I was told to write to the song.”
Clarkson explains that they flew it to Sweden, adding, “I get there and these two people, Luke and Max, weren’t told I was writing it and they just had already written it. And I looked like an idiot for walking in and the label had told me something completely different. I just think that’s a red flag. Why lie to me like that? Why don’t you just send me there and then they hear the song? I don’t like lying. So I’m in a bad mood for this song because of the origin story.”
Despite Clarkson’s “low mood” at the making of the song, she says she’s capable of venting any animosity and singing fan-favorite songs.
“I’m a great divider,” Clarkson said. “I can put that aside and sing at the top of my lungs.”
Watch Clarkson in the WWHL in the video below.
In 2013, Clarkson responded to Davis’ memoir by publishing an open letter saying the music mogul “messed up the stories and the songs.” Davis responded with a statement on Twitter that he “stands by the chapter as it is in my book.”