Kelly Clarkson Just Dropped A Bombshell About ‘Since U Been Gone’: ‘I Was Lied To’
July 3, 2023 by Carrie McCabe
In an appearance on Watch What Happens Live on Tuesday, Kelly Clarkson revealed the truth about her smash 2004 song “Since U Been Gone”—and the claims producer Clive Davis made that Kelly actually “hated” the song that became one of her biggest-ever hits.
Davis’ main claim to the story comes from his 2013 memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life. In the book, the record producer alleged Clarkson hated “Since U Been Gone” and “burst into hysterical sobbing” when told that it would be included on her album, Breakaway. On Watch What Happens Live, a fan asked Kelly about Davis’ tale, and the talk show host was more than happy to tell her side of the story.
At the time Davis’ memoir was published, Kelly already hit back at the producer’s alleging that he had to have a “very tough conversation” with her to insist “Since U Been Gone” be included on her upcoming album. On WhoSay, Clarkson responded to the story by writing, “I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up [Clive Davis’] memory lapses and misinformation.” The American Idol alum continued, “It feels like a violation…[the story is] not true at all. His stories and songs are mixed up. I couldn’t be more proud of that song. I resent him dampening that song in any way.”
Kelly added that she did cry in the meeting with Clive Davis—but not about “Since U Been Gone”, and not for the reasons he listed in the memoir. “I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called ‘Because of You,’ she said at the time. “He hated it and told me verbatim that I was a ‘s—– writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.'”