Kelly Clarkson has come a long way since winning American Idol in 2002. The Grammy winner celebrated the release of her eighth studio album, Meaning of Life, with a candid, no-holds-barred concert and Q&A at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles on Friday, October 27.
The hour-long show, which was hosted by 104.3 MYFM’s Valentine and benefited local Los Angeles charities Bob Hope USO and Children of Fallen Patriots, proved to fans that Kelly’s not only a powerhouse singer, but also one of the most genuine and down to earth artists on the scene.
Meaning of Life is Kelly’s first LP on Atlantic Records — her last record, 2015's Piece By Piece, rounded out her contract with RCA Records — and she was candid about how much she “needed” to release this record.
“I got to focus on really being a singer on this album,” she shared with the crowd. “I wanted to make sure that if I were to die there was a footprint, like, no, damn, she can sing! … I’m so excited about this new chapter in my life — I really needed to do it for me.”
Kelly kicked off the event by throwing it back with a performance of “Break Away” — which she admits has a “whole new meaning now” — before signing album title track “Meaning of Life.”
“It’s heavy,” she told Valentine of the album track and title. “We’re all under construction. At this point in my life, I’m just so happy and I think all my twenties it took clearing out the weeds and keeping the flowers [to get here]. … Any tool that says ‘I’ve figured it out’ — that’s a douche,” she joked.
Clarkson sprinkled hits “Because of You” and “Stronger” into the mix while also debuting new tracks “Love So Soft,” “Move You” and “Heat.”
Kelly — who joked “I’m trying to find the fan — my Spanx are getting hot” midway through the show — shared that “Heat” is one of her favorite songs off the album.
“I love this song. It’s called ‘Heat’ but it feels like fire. I thought it was so infectious in the most positive way,” she added. “It’s a warning to like — I’m in a beautiful loving relationship [with husband Brandon Blackstock] — but don’t let the fire die.”
The Idol alum surprised fans by also covering one of her current favorite tracks: “Thunder” by Imagine Dragons.
“I love covering songs,” Kelly shared. “It’s my fave thing to do. … Evolve, Imagine Dragons’ new album, is my jam. I hate working out and this is the only thing that gets me on a treadmill ... it’s like a spiritual high. I wanted to [cover it] and make ‘Thunder’ a dirty, southern soulful sound.”
Kelly finished the night by performing three sassy songs: “Didn’t I,” “Medicine” and “Whole Lotta Woman.”
“It’s OK to be you,” Kelly concluded the evening before belting out powerful track “Whole Lotta Woman.” “[If someone says] 'You’re extra, you’re too much’ it’s like, ‘OK, alright, bye! I’ll find someone else who thinks this is the s--t.’ … Be yourself and be happy and if you’re not happy, then change something.”
Set List:
“Breakaway”
“Meaning Of Life”
“Because Of You”
“Love So Soft”
“Stronger”
“Move You”
“Heat”
“Thunder” (Cover Imagine Dragons)
“Didn’t I”
“Medicine”
“Whole Lotta Woman”
See more performance videos below:
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