When Kelly Clarkson signed on to host a talk show, fans didn’t know what they were in for. One of the happiest outcomes of The Kelly Clarkson Show wound up being the Kellyoke segment, where the host covers popular songs by other artists.
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During the segment, Clarkson has performed songs by everyone from Taylor Swift to Radiohead to Destiny’s Child. The whole segment ended up being so popular that Clarkson released an album in 2022, which featured six of her most popular Kellyoke covers.
Keep reading for five of the best Kellyoke covers ever.
“9 to 5” (Dolly Parton)
Clarkson decided to open the first ever episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show with an epic cover of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” The segment began with a pre-recorded portion showing Clarkson at home, getting ready for work, and working hard.
Then, she walked into the her studio signing the track live, wowing and delighting her first-ever audience. During a later episode of her show, Clarkson covered the song again, this time with Parton herself, delivering another epic performance.
“abcdefu” (Gayle)
Clarkson raised eyebrows and made headlines with her cover of Gayle’s hit song. The performance came after Clarkson’s divorce from Brandon Blackstock, and she changed the lyrics to speak to her experience with the split.
In the chorus, Gayle sings, “F**k you and your mom and your sister and your job / And your broke a** car and that s**t you call art.” Clarkson, though, changed those lines to be, “Forget you, and your dad, and the fact that you got half / And my broken heart, turn that s**t into art.”
Gayle was in support of Clarkson’s version. She took to Instagram to praise the cover, gushing, “queen be queening.”
“Before He Cheats” (Carrie Underwood)
Clarkson decided to take on another American Idol alum’s hit when she sang Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats.” She made the track her own, utilizing her rasp and hitting some unexpected high notes. The audience was all for Clarkson’s rendition, cheering along as she delivered a powerful performance.
“Happier Than Ever” (Billie Eilish)
Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” became one of Clarkson’s most popular Kellyoke covers. It even so landed a spot on Clarkson’s 2022 album that featured several songs from the segment.
“That song just was so, I think, poignant for so many people,” Clarkson said during an appearance on Apple Music 1’s The Chart Show With Brooke Reese . “So that one really did hit home for me and I really, really, really wanted to do that one. Because we’d done it on [The Kelly Clarkson Show], and I was like, ‘God, this song is amazing,’ and I like the fact that I got to change it up and kind of put my own spin on it.”
“I cover her all the time, I love her music. Just a really great songwriter. And even the vibe of the songs, their team is just so good,” Clarkson added. “So I was pretty sure I wanted to do that one and that one went viral, so the ones that we know the fans like, we obviously went to as well.”
“Wrecking Ball” (Miley Cyrus)
When Clarkson decided to cover “Wrecking Ball,” she performed it totally differently than Miley Cyrus did in 2013. The acoustic and stripped down version gave viewers all the feels and allowed the powerful lyrics to shine alongside Clarkson’s equally powerful voice.
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