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Kelly Clarkson is ready for her next chapter.
The world first had the pleasure of meeting the Texas-born singer-songwriter in 2002, when she won American Idol’s inaugural season; not long after, she’d topped Billboard’s pop, adult contemporary, country, and dance charts all at once. Now a seasoned professional, she’s sold more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles worldwide—and often sent the internet spiraling with live covers of chart-topping songs (a.k.a. “Kellyoke”) on her self-titled talk show, which recently wrapped its fourth season.
Of her highly anticipated tenth studio album, Chemistry, which was released on Friday, Clarkson says: “Having chemistry with someone is an incredible and overwhelming feeling. It’s like you have no choice in the matter—you are just drawn to each other. This can be good or bad. This album takes you down every path that chemistry could lead you down.”
Writing the album served as an emotional outlet for Clarkson after she filed for divorce from Brandon Blackstock, her husband of nearly seven years, in 2020. Once she had melodies and lyrics in mind, she engaged her long-time collaborators Jesse Shatkin and Jason Halbert as producers. (Among the other contributors to Chemistry? David Guetta, Steve Martin, and drummer Shiela E.) Chronicling her journey of self-discovery and independence after heartbreak (and tapping into her up-tempo power-ballad sweet spot), the new music was informed by Clarkson’s emotional landscape more than specific sonic influences—although she feels that in it, you can likely hear nods to some of her favorite artists, ranging from Whitney Houston to Green Day.
It took some prodding from her label before Clarkson felt ready to set a release date. “I didn’t want to be in interviews talking about these songs that were still fresh for me. It was very important for me to be on the other side of [the experience] by the time my music came out,” she says. “At this point, it’s like looking at a different chapter of my life and a different version of me, and it’s exciting.”
Needless to say, Clarkson is thoroughly booked and busy at the moment, dividing her time between New York (where The Kelly Clarkson Show now shoots) and her ranch in Montana, and preparing an upcoming exclusive Las Vegas engagement, Chemistry…An Intimate Night With Kelly Clarkson. Opening late next month at Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort Casino, the latter will immerse attendees in her two decades’ worth of award-winning hits. “When I [had] the idea for a Vegas residency years ago, it was before COVID, and I had a whole different plan,” Clarkson says. “At the time, I didn’t know if I would make another record, or what it could sound like. Afterward, I wrote this completely different record, and I’m now in a different place.”
She teases that her Vegas show will be a bit more rock ’n’ roll than pop, in tune with the rawness of Chemistry’s storytelling. “That’s where the title ‘An Intimate Night…’ came from, because I didn’t want people to think it would be the same kind of Vegas show [you’ve seen] before. This show is about the music, the vocals, all the vocalists I’m blessed to share the stage with, and making those live magical moments.”
In lieu of music videos, Clarkson has released a series of live performances—recorded at New York’s Belasco Theatre in April, on her birthday—to let fans experience selections from the new album in their most intimate and authentic form. “Concerts are the vessel for a moment where some people would never be in the same room, but a shared inspiration has brought them together,” she says. “It’s a little escapism from the everyday chaos, because music is a powerful thing.” She recalls some of her own favorite concert experiences as a fan—shows by U2, Annie Lennox, Garth Brooks—describing them as “spiritual.”
But more than anything, nearly three years after writing many of the songs on Chemistry, Clarkson is thrilled that fans are actually getting to hear them. “I’m not anxious about the release,” she says. “I’m more excited. I can’t wait to finally let people in.”
