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Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > January > 30 > Entry
1/30: Kelly Clarkson at Q100 studios
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TMZ reports that season two winner Ruben Studdard today sued a marketing company for breach of contract..
But today, I’ll focus on season one winner Kelly Clarkson, who visited Q100 studios this morning, flying in from Nashville, then flying right back. Q100 just moved to a bigger signal so the Bert Show is bringing in big stars. Others this week include Ne-Yo and Nick Lachey.
ABOVE: I had about 15 seconds with her and I babbled something about doing an “Idol” blog to her and she politely said something like, “And the season just started!” That was the extent of that!
Over five-plus years, I’ve seen Kelly in concert three times but have never met her in person. So Q100 was nice enough to give me the chance. The Bert Show interviewed her for an hour so pretty much everything I could think of asking was asked and then some.
She was chatty Cathy, openly willing to answer any question and even when it got too invasive, she took no offense. She was chipper and looked great, even sans makeup. Besides her predilection for a certain curse word, she also likes to say the word “weird.” But she’s no longer using the phrase “Cool beans!”
Some random topics she brought up:
Her speaking voice: “I never leave voicemails. It’s the worst talking voice ever… I sound like a goober!”
Potty mouth: she admits she curses too much from her days as a cocktail waitress. In fact, she drops the s-bomb once during the conversation, then a few more times playing “Rock Band.” Bert had to use the “dump” button so that didn’t end up on air.
Avoiding Los Angeles: “I haven’t lived there. I’ve worked there so much that I practically live there. I moved my studios to Nashville… Everyone is trying to climb that fame ladder. It’s weird! It’s Halloween constantly. I can’t stay there. My best friend lives there… I grew up in the country. It’s weird. [In L.A.,] you don’t have yards.” She owns a 60-acre pad outside Burleson, Texas and uses that as a break from the fame game. She’ll be getting horses and has a barn.
Recluse? “When I’m working, I’m a social bird. I love going out. When I’m home, I don’t see anyone.”
New management: “It took five years for me to get the right circle of people. My new management [Reba’s folks] are so like me. It’s perfect. They’re very low key.”
On Reba McEntire, who she is now touring with: “I’m such a nerd. I’m such a fan. I’ve been a fan of hers since I was a kid. It’s just fun. She has such a distincct voice. She know show to dial back the country so when we sing together, it sounds so great.”
On Reba singing her songs!: “It’s trippy! She’s, like, smiling. ‘You’re so singing my song! It’s such a weird thing!”
They play the “40 Year Old Virgin” moment when Steve Carell’s character yelps “Kelly Clarkson” while getting his chest waxed, one of the funniest moments in the film and totally adlibbed. Jeff Dauler suggested she put that on her voicemail since she hates her own voice. “I’m an idiot!” she exclaimed. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
When asked about the Clive Davis tension, she never denied it. (How could she? She talked about it in multiple publications.) But she said she didn’t fight directly with Clive in every case, that it’s not like they talk every day. And she said tension is normal between artist and management, which is true. She said she had battles with “Breakaway” being too dark, too. “It’s important for any artist to put your foot down. You know what you want to sound like. It’s your face, your voice.”
The question of why “My December” tanked relative to “Breakaway” was kind of skirted. We could pinpoint a lot of reasons in this blog though it was probably a combination of lack of label support and somewhat weaker, less melodic songs, even if the tone wasn’t all that different.
ABOVE: Kelly tries out “Rock Band” for the first time, managing to finish Foo Fighters’ “Learning to Fly” on her first try. She picked drums because vocals would be boring for her. “I want to do something I suck at!” she said beforehand. She almost lost midway through but figured it out and got better. She bragged that she was a “Guitar Hero” killer and planned to buy “Rock Band” for her bus as soon as possible.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 3:37 PM | Link to this
KELLYFAN….it’s heeerrreee!!!!
Rodney!!! I don’t see any gray hair! :-)
By War Eagle
January 30, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
She definantly looks better as a blonde. Rodney I wish you could have gotten a picture of her from behind.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 3:55 PM | Link to this
She just seems like a sweetheart to me…always has! Despite the tone of her latest cd.
By ,,,=^..^=,,,
January 30, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
LOL WE!
She does seem like another of the “nice gals” that ARE out there…. despite the media’s insatiable desire to cover s** and druggies, there ARE some out there who are genuine … and genuinely nice!
nice job, speaking of nice, Rodney :-)
By flats
January 30, 2008 4:03 PM | Link to this
NO EAGLE!!!!!!!WHY???
By War Eagle
January 30, 2008 4:10 PM | Link to this
flats, I have always admired her from behind for some reason. I know she has gotten a little thick in the middle but I’m not that picky. I’m a little thicker in the middle than I need to be.
By kellyfan
January 30, 2008 4:14 PM | Link to this
LOL, D!
I see that! I love her hair…
Rodney, I’m glad you got to meet her albeit “oh, so briefly.” I heard the whole interview and quite enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing the experience with us all.
And see guys, pretty! I mean, come on. swoon ;)
By War Eagle
January 30, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
KF, I would hit it.
By flats
January 30, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Me too…She does seem to be a down to earth cool girl.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
I’ll check in again tonight after the show. Let’s hope it isn’t as snooze inducing as last night!
Top 24…Top 24…skip the crappy auditions and get to the top 24!
By kellyfan
January 30, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
LOL…boys will be boys. And yeah,so you finally see my point… lol.
D, I like that slogan. Think we can go chant it a la WGA writers? Idol watchers on strike? ;)
By War Eagle
January 30, 2008 4:49 PM | Link to this
For the LOST fans out there:
Lost: Drama. 9 p.m. Thursdays on ABC.
For those of you who haven’t invested in the first three seasons of “Lost,” it’s not too late. Tonight at 9, ABC is going to air the two-hour Season 3 finale, complete with “onscreen facts” dominating the bottom third of your screen, which will set the stage for what is happening and which elements are important.
At 8 p.m. Thursday, ABC will air a one-hour table-setter called “Lost: Past, Present & Future,” which should bring everyone up to speed before the kickoff to Season 4.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this
Thank goodness for WE and kellyfan! I LOVE Lost!!!! My older kid and his girlfriend started watching season 1 this fall…got hooked…bought season 2 and they are finishing season 3 tonight..just in time. He keeps emailing me after an episode and its all I can do not to tell him what comes next. I did tell him that the season 3 finale is going to blow his mind!
By ,,,=^..^=,,,
January 30, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
dang it D…. i find myself wishing more and more that i’d watched it from the beginning sigh
i wonder how much it would cost to rent it…. but i’d have to DVR the new season and save it for later, LOL!
By Mike S
January 30, 2008 5:31 PM | Link to this
KEwl — Kelly is ok in my book - GHIII and Rock Band are the best games out right now. I love both of them!
Suck at drums, but I do pretty good on the guitar, and on Rock Band I have been getting 100% on all the vocals.. WOOT WOOT.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this
Hey Mike!!! Hope all is going well…last night was a real dude…couldn’t even get a decent conversation going!
linny…it would be worth every penny!!! :-)
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
Ummm last night was a real dud..not a real dude…I must have wandered into a Bud Light commercial!
By Mike S
January 30, 2008 5:50 PM | Link to this
CHRIS SLIGH has his first single out.
Listen here : http://www.myspace.com/chrissligh
The song is called “EMPTY ME”
Chris first album “Running Back To You” will be released May 6 on Atlanta based Brash Records.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
Wow…that song has ‘hit’ written all over it! I hope it gets out for public consumption…I liked it a lot!
By Mike S
January 30, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
Definately a great song D.
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 7:36 PM | Link to this
Hey, It took me a week but I finally got my wireless router installed.
I hope tonight is better than last night. We’ll see.
By Mike S
January 30, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
PHIL STACEY album will be out on Lyric Street Records April 15.
Here is Chris Sligh’s bulliten he sent out to let his fans know the his single was out - It is good to see he has not lost his wicked sense of humor.
My first single, all mixed, all mastered, all finished is up on my space! You, yes, you fair friends, can head to my page right now and listen to it. It will both rock your face off and melt your heart. As my page says, it is like psychotropic drugs while experiencing Chinese Water Torture…yes, it’s that good.
Anyway, before I overhype it, you should listen and form your own opinions of it. Hopefully there are good opinions.
Also, remember the album will be coming out May 6. This is a must have for your vinyl collection. Well, it won’t actually be coming out on vinyl. But it will be a good add to your collection of musical masterpieces, including, but not exclusive to: Milli Vanillii, Jump5, *Nsync, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and Hannah Montana. Don’t pretend like you’re not impressed.
Just buy the album.
But first listen to the single. You will not be disappointed. Unless you are.
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
Wake me up when they get down to the top 24.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Did they actually show more people who could sing tonight than people who couldn’t sing…was I dreaming?
By kellyfan(from home)
January 30, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Wow….here are my comments/complaints LOL.
Miami…..caliente!
Shannon McGuff - meat market girl. Cry baby….well, I’m about to. She’s awfully pitchy. doesn’t make it. SHOCKING! She kinda looks like Mischa Barton to me.
Robbie Carrico - Former boy bander. He’s decent who looks like Kid Rock’s surfer kid brother. he is through….
Oh, the montage of bay guy singers…
Ghaleb - From Venezuela, looks like a musician. He does so Marc Anthony…and he’s alright, but I agree with Paula about the accent. I think he would be a great singer in Spanish. But he is through.
Courliss and Brittany - Courless starts totally flirting to Randy. I’m laughing at this. Brittany sings to Simon. They are both entertaining and fairly decent. They are both through.
Suzanne Toon - Single (pretty) mom. Sings I Can’t Make You Love Me. “Sultry sexiness” She is through. Whoop.
Ramiele - Wants to be the first Asian Idol winner. Sings Natural Woman…and I like her. She gets through. She gets the cute vote.
Seysha Mercado - Doing some Aretha …and she’s very good. She is through.
Natasha Blach - Ah, “At Last” she is fairly pretty and does a decent job.
Ilsy Lorena Pinot - Does a decent version of Unfaithful. She is through.
Ben H.
Carroy -Wow, that hair!
Grant Rhea - He will be free, but we’re not
Fabienne - Next!
Richard Valles - Tries to sing Rascal Flatts “God Bless The Broken Road” He is horrible.
Julie Dubela (an American Junior Top 20) - Whatever happened to those kids?! Boy, she’s grown up since then. She sings some Janis Joplin. Snooze. She doesn’t make it and doesn’t want to take “no” for an answer.
…and I’ve lost interest.
17 golden tickets were given out.
Oh! Next week we finally have the Atlanta audtions! Are we done soon? Please?
By Justin
January 30, 2008 9:07 PM | Link to this
WHAT THE H… i thought they were done with auditions!!! it’s getting soo annoying but maybe its just one next week…but still it’s really annoying i just want them to get to hollywood already
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:11 PM | Link to this
I liked the guy with the knit hat…Robby…I think he and the girl who sang Think way too loud were the best tonight.
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 9:16 PM | Link to this
I think we are all in agreement that the auditions suck.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:23 PM | Link to this
But….while auditions suck….these auditions SEEMED to feature more singers than non-singers, which is what we’ve been asking for and I enjoyed that. Some of the people who made it to Hollywood shouldn’t have BUT…at least they could carry a tune as opposed to some of the others.
Julie(the American Junior) needs to take a couple of more years to GROW UP!!! Then maybe she should try out again.
And the guy with the accent, Ghaleb(thanks again to kf for taking notes)…that guy is closer to 37 than 27.
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
I agree about the junior idol girl. I think her parents should have put her over their knee a few more times. SPOILED BRAT
By kellyfan(from home)
January 30, 2008 9:31 PM | Link to this
No problem, D. I figure it helps with the discussions (while Rodney gets the chance to update the blog).
I agree…he looked OLD. Well, older than the age limit, anyway. I could not stand the American Junior. Talk about being overconfident. From what they showed, she was better when she was 12!
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 9:37 PM | Link to this
KF, if you liked men I would have to give you a call because we think so much alike.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this
She was fresh and honored to be there when she was 12…the 16 year old version of Julie was living in ‘entitlement heaven’. At some point we’re going to have to realize that raising children with good self esteem does NOT mean never saying the word ‘no’!
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
WE and kf…maybe you guys could work something out! :-)
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
Maybe we can just find a girl to share. I’m not selfish.
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:51 PM | Link to this
LOL!!!! I’ll see you guys tomorrow…I have to go prep for the Lost premiere tomorrow night! :-)
By Deirdre
January 30, 2008 9:54 PM | Link to this
Which reminds me..my son(the one who’s been watching all 3 seasons of Lost for the last few months, just called totally freaked by the season finale! I tried to warn him.
I don’t think the title LOST refers to the castaways…I think it’s a warning to viewers that your head will be spinning from all the twists and turns!
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 10:00 PM | Link to this
I think LOST is A great name because that is what I have been since the show premired.
By kellyfan(from home)
January 30, 2008 10:11 PM | Link to this
LOL! Ah, WE, that made my night. (Great minds, eh?) Yeah, well, we could just bar hop and scope out the scenery. I’m sure that would be a riot. Something like, “Random Question: hot dogs or bagels?” HA!
By Mike S
January 30, 2008 10:15 PM | Link to this
Tonight was one of the best audition shows in a long time, in that they showed a lot of good singers and kept the clowns to a tolerable level.
Little Miss Sunshine from American Kids needs to get a serious reality check. She is very talented, but she needs to lose the DIVA attitude and I am glad the judges took her down a lot. YO MOMMY & DADDY, quit giving the brat everything she wants on a silver platter — learn to say NO and make her grow up a little!
Now on to the important stuff — 17 Golden Tickets given out and we got to see 9. First time we got to see over half of a cities pass throughs. Also, there were THREE people who are on the leaked top 24 list. Not sure how people feel about that, so I will not name them.
There were 4 GREAT SINGERS tonight in my opinion -
Robbie Carrico - Finally a good male (!st since Michael Johns) Belts out an awesome Simple Man by Skynyrd
Brittany Westcott - The one that likes Ryan. Beautiful voice.
Ramielle Malubay - Close to the best singer so far. Asian beauty and cute as a button. She gets Two FLATS up for sure.
Syesha Mercado - Good back story with recovering addict father. Great voice, but sang a little too loud for me. Needs to tone it down.
The rest that got through were good, but not really great to me. Ghalieb - accent is a big problem, but may have a career as a latin singer. Corliss Smith - Nice understated Jazz song, but not sure she can go out of that niche. Suzanne Toon - Good, not great. Natashia Blach - Nice voice, but nothing special. Ilsy Pinot - another good but nothing special singer.
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Its all about the bagles KF.
Chat tomorrow
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
HA LOLOL. Mike S said Two STIFFYS up for the cute Asian girl. CLASSIC
By Mike S
January 30, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
What can I say - I calls ‘em as I sees ‘em. ;-)
By War Eagle (from home)
January 30, 2008 10:49 PM | Link to this
Nothing wrong with that Mike S
By Rodney Ho
January 31, 2008 12:20 AM | Link to this
Mike S—thanks for the Chris Sligh/ Phil Stacey updates. I was aware of them but got a bit busy with other stuff to post’em myself. I’ll do so tomorrow…
By Rico
January 31, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
She is definitely BBP! Big Bootey Princess!!!