2 Kelly Clarkson Songs You Didn’t Know Were Almost Recorded by Somebody Else

Around the turn of the 21st century, the genre of pop punk music became especially popular. Thanks to bands like Green Day and Blink-182 and singers like Avril Lavigne and P!nk, the sounds had heroes that audiences could look to and appreciate. As such, the genre has since opened up to other stars like Machine Gun Kelly and Willow. But along the way, some songs written by those stars in the genre got passed around behind the scenes. Here below, we wanted to take a look at a pair of examples that went to the iconic Kelly Clarkson. These are two tracks that were nearly recorded by big-name pop punk artists before going to the American Idol alum. Indeed, these are two pop punk songs by Kelly Clarkson that you didn’t know were almost recorded by somebody else.

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“Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson from ‘Breakaway’ (2004)

Written by prolific hit-makers Max Martin and Dr. Luke, this song was originally sent to the popular pop punk artist P!nk, but she turned the track down. Then the tune’s composers looked to performer Hilary Duff, who also put up her hand and declined the opportunity. Duff thought she might not be able to rise to the challenge of the high notes in the work. But you know who didn’t shy away? An early career Kelly Clarkson, who took on the track and knocked it out of the park.

In total, Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” hit no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent nearly 50 weeks on the hallowed chart. And while you might not think of Clarkson as a pop punk artist, she fit the bill on this tune.

“Breakaway” by Kelly Clarkson from ‘Breakaway’ (2004)

Did someone say Kelly Clarkson? Well, her sophomore LP Breakaway had another pop punk hit on it. Written by a quartet of composers, including pop punk queen Avril Lavigne, the song “Breakaway” was such a hit that Clarkson named her second studio LP after it.

Originally, the Canadian-born Lavigne wrote the track for her own debut LP, but it didn’t end up making the cut. So, when Clarkson got her hands on it, she made it her own. In fact, Lavigne told the backstory on an episode of Clarkson’s popular daytime talk show.

“I wrote this song,” said Lavigne while on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “Recorded it for my first album. I did not use it. It went to Kelly, and she slayed.”

There you go: Kelly Clarkson is a pop punk artist, after all!

Photo by SGranitz/WireImage for Lifetime Television LA