Kelly Clarkson Still Feels Pain From Her Post-Divorce Album

Kelly Clarkson's recent performance of her upcoming Chemistry album took an emotional toll. The musician previewed the album at a Los Angeles concert in celebration of her 41st birthday recently. Following her performance, Clarkson reflected on the difficulties of singing those songs to Entertainment Weekly. "The emotions kind of murdered me," Clarkson told the outlet yesterday (May 8). The artist even paused and apologized to the crowd after feeling overwhelmed.

Though the "Stronger" singer's rehearsals were described as "pretty flawless and easy and great." But she says that her overwhelming feelings were "just like a wave washed over me." Since her divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock after nearly seven years of marriage, Chemistry finds Clarkson in a "very honest" space, she told the outlet, but she did scrap some songs that were "too truth-telling." She said people will still hear the record and "be like 'Oh, damn, she went there!' and I'm like, 'No, I promise you I didn't.'"

As we previously reported, Clarkson wrote the album a few years ago and waited until she was ready to release it. The talk show host said she's looking forward to sharing the music with fans who can relate to her lyrics. "No matter what album you're listening to, it is kind of nice to have these people that went through stuff that other people are going through, and you just don't feel alone in it," she said. "Because I'll tell you what, that's the worst: when you're in a crowded room, or you're smiling for America while doing your job, and you just feel so sad and alone. That's the worst feeling ever."

In addition to releasing Chemistry on June 23, she's gearing up for her Las Vegas residency in July. In preparation for the emotions that will inevitably come up during the performances, Clarkson had to previously adapt to tread lightly. She told EW, "It just takes time to... not really separate, but to get to where you can remember it but you don't drown in it. You dive in, but you're treading water."

Following her birthday concert, Clarkson admits she doesn't have control over the "pain" and "real fresh" emotions "when one is still, daily, trying to come out on the other side." She added, "It's supposed to be what it's supposed to be. You have to learn to let that go and live in the moment, whatever it is."

Kelly Clarkson keeps cranking out amazing covers in her Kellyoke series. The singer and talk show host never fails to entertain with her genre-spanning covers. From Destiny's Child to Lenny Kravitz to Chris Stapleton, you don't know what song she will put her own spin on next.

Clarkson previously released an album of six of her covers from 2022 after "singing over 500" on The Kelly Clarkson Show, which she said was "near-impossible" to choose. The Kellyoke album was released in June of 2022 and features the following songs:

Announcing her upcoming 10th studio album, Chemistry, the singer said she didn’t want “everybody” to think that her emotions could just be simplified as angry or sad. She explained in a video, “This album is definitely the arc of an entire relationship, and a whole relationship shouldn’t be just brought down to one thing. So there’s the good, the bad, the ugly thing kinda going on in it.”

In addition to new music, Clarkson will also be heading to Las Vegas, singing fan favorites and new songs, for a 10-show residency starting July 28.

See our favorite Kellyoke performances of 2023 so far below:

Kelly playfully made Taylor's version her own, as she notes in the caption.

Kelly's rendition of "Do I Wanna Know?" is so powerful and we might like it even better than the original!

Kelly kicked off Black History Month with this powerhouse cover of Destiny Child's 2001 hit song.

Clarkson shows the softness of her voice in this beautiful ballad by emerging artist, Joy Oladokun.

Though it is impossible to out-sing Cher, Clarkson's rendition of 1998's "Strong Enough" is fun and high energy.

Clarkson gives CeCe Peniston a run for her money in this groovy dance cover.

Clarkson blew us away with her version of rock band Spacehog's 1994 song.

Kelly lets us know it ain't over till it's over in this Lenny Kravitz cover of "It Ain’t Over ’til It’s Over."

The talk show host covered one of our favorite Janet Jackson songs: "When I Think of You."

Starting off the song slow, Kelly ups the energy in this classic dance pop song, "Gotta Get Thru This."

Kelly kicked off Spring with another Florence + the Machine cover, belting out "Free."

We are loving this soulful cover of Jazmine Sullivan's Grammy-award-winning song.

Kelly and Shazam!'s Zachary Levi harmonized beautifully in this cover of 'Something Stupid' by Nancy and Frank Sinatra.

We love how effortless and natural Kelly sounds in her cover of Mark Morrison's "Return of the Mack."

Clarkson breathes new life into Death Cab for Cutie's "You Are a Tourist."

Kelly has the vocal power to make this Mazzy Star cover both dreamy and calming, yet powerful and commanding.

Kelly gave the Pixies a run for their money when she covered "Where Is My Mind?" in February.

Clarkson evoked her inner Stapleton when she covered this smooth cover of "Tennessee Whiskey."

Adele who? Clarkson blew her fellow powerhouse singer away in her rendition of this Adele classic.

These two powerhouse singers might be the most iconic pairing of all time! Kelly harmonizes beautifully with P!nk, allowing her to take the spotlight.

Her performance of Chris De Burgh's signature song from 1986 is simply beautiful.