Kelly Clarkson Is Looking for Love, Stalking Adele and Writing 'Kiss-Off' Songs for Mr. Wrong -- Exclusive Q&A

What's your favorite part about your video for 'Mr. Know It All?'

The best part of this video was the "Wall of Doubt." That was how Justin [Francis] the director sold on me on the treatment. We used actual headlines about me that were just ridiculous, or mean, or funny. We used real things. I thought it was witty -- the imagery of performing in front of it because it's behind you; it's in the past. It's just kind of cool to poke fun of that.

What's the most ridiculous thing that's ever been written about you?

Oh, man. The most ridiculous thing? A lot of people think I'm gay for some reason and I don't know why and it's not really helping me any. That's probably the most ridiculous one. I just think it's funny. I'm very unfiltered. I say exactly what's on my mind. If I was gay, I would just say I was gay. Yeah, I don't get why people think that.

On your Already Famous' Twitter, you tweeted a photo of your girl band with the caption: "Three girls looking for three fellas." Are you looking for a fella?

Oh yeah, constantly. I always hate when people tell single people, "You'll find him when you're not looking." We're always looking. When am I not looking?

Watch the Rest of Kelly Clarkson's Exclusive Interview With AOL Music


What's with all the kiss-off songs?

It's not just guys. I just like telling people off if I don't like them. Not in a mean way. I'm just like my mother; I have no filter. I like that! I want people around me like that. There's going to be so much miscommunication if you don't say what you think and say what you feel. Life would be a lot easier if everyone did that.

Do you have a performance idol?

I'm a huge fan of Annie Lennox. When I first saw her in London, she was so captivating. She had a mike stand and a screen with water drops going behind her. How in the world did she completely kill that performance with just that? That was just so amazing to me. I just thought, how awesome that would be, just to one day completely captivate an audience like that? Instead of going to your audience, you're bringing them into your performance. It sounds cheesy and artsy but it's a goal of mine. I haven't yet, but hopefully, one day I will.

Annie Lennox dressed up in drag at the '84 Grammy Awards. Would you ever do that?

I love dressing up! I would totally do the crazy stuff people do. Usually, my whole thing is that I don't like to distract from the music part, but oh my god. I'm totally the dress up queen. I go crazy. I do stupid stuff. I throw fun parties. My best party was a "White Trash Party" with dead animals on the walls and everyone's version of white trash... I'm totally that fun girl but whenever I'm working and doing music stuff, my whole thing is that I don't want that to get in the way of the song, the simplicity of what music is for me. All that can be such a distraction. Especially Lady Gaga, you know, she's so talented! Sometimes I think, man, you can be just talented, just singing on the stage, you don't have to do all that. But you know, she loves it. It's kind of part of her thing. It's kind of fun to see. It's very entertaining.

And I don't know if you heard, but the Chinese version of 'American Idol' has been banned in China because the voting process is too Democratic. What do you think of that?

What?! Oh, wow. That's a little harsh, right? For a fun little family show? I don't know. I'm not from China. Maybe it's like normal over there. I think it's a fun show. I think why it's so popular. Especially for fans, like, I'm such of fan of music. I like that you can call in for your favorite person and be a part of their career from the beginning. I guess they'll have to YouTube it to feel that they're there.

Have any of the other 'American Idol' winners come and ask you for advice?

No. I don't think I come off as the Mother Hen. I'm not really one to give advice. Even if people ask, I'm like, "You just gotta go do it. You just gotta get through whatever your walk or whatever train ride it is through this industry is." It's always different because everyone is different -- your personality, your desires for your career. You can't really teach that. That just has to be experienced.

Do you still watch the show?

Oh yeah. I watch 'Idol.' I watch 'The Voice.' I'll watch 'X-Factor.' I love all those show. I just love being entertained.

Who are your influences on the new album?

My iPod is so random. I have old school and I have new stuff. My sister is awesome at introducing me to bands no one has ever heard of and then they end up breaking up. She showed me the Script years ago. I was like, "How did you know?" She's really my go-to girl for indie music. I just like a lot different styles and I like to incorporate that on my albums. That's why when people ask me about my influences on the album, they're so random. It's everyone from Tina Turner to Cheryl Crow to Radiohead on this album. It's just because there's a lot of different songs and a lot of different colors to my personality that come out on the album. I never want to make the same song on an album twice. That's a little lame. You're cheating the buyer, I think.

You've mention you're a fan of Pistol Annies. What draws you to country music today?

What draws me to country music today and from when I was a kid, it's the same thing: I love the persona of country. It's very laid back. It's very what you see is what you get. And I think it's the story telling aspects. The greatest songwriters, they have the greatest songs.

Any favorite tracks on your new album?

Probably 'Why Don't You Try.' It's on the deluxe version. Eric Hutchinson was touring with me in Australia and I was in my dressing room and all of a sudden I heard this song. I was like, what is he singing! And I ran out of the dressing room – I looked like a hot mess! I was in the middle of getting my hair and make-up done. He had just surprised the audience with a new song. He came off the stage and I was like, you need to write me a song like that! And instead, he gave me that song so I could have it on my album. It's a very relatable song to me.

Are you really stalking Adele?

I want to stalk Adele so she'll sing with me. I love her voice and I really want to sing with her. She knows that. We were on 'Divas' together and I cornered her in her room and said, 'I really want to sing with you!' I just love her voice. I saw her performance on the VMAs and the EMAs. All these performers came out and did a great job, but then this girl comes out and she's just standing there with a microphone and there's a piano and she just kills everyone! She was the most memorable act of the night. She's just so talented. And it's just raw. She writes similar to a lot of female artists; It's exactly what you're going through. People love that. You get invited into their world.

Are you as straight forward as your songs?

My songs are definitely a reflection of how I am in my personal life. I can't help but let that bleed through in my music. I grew up with a single mom for a little bit of my life, in the growing stages. Just watching her work so hard, I'm not a feminist, but it kind of lit something inside of me like, "Always take care of myself," and "I can do anything I want to do if I really work hard for it." Watching my mom really instilled those thoughts in my head. It can be really damaging in a relationship because it's hard for me to let go of control of certain things. I could be a great girlfriend if a guy was really independent like me, but I'm a bad a girlfriend if the guy is leachy and has no identity. That's why I do a lot of kiss-off songs. Because I date a lot of wrong guys. So, I can pull from that!

Have you ever dated a fan?

A fan? Well, no. But no fan has ever asked me out! They've asked me to marry them, but that's jumping the gun! No, I don't think I've ever been really asked out by fan. There's a chance. I'm saying, there's a chance!


Watch Kelly Clarkson's 'Mr. Know It All' Video