Kelly Clarkson Claims ‘Mean People’ Have Been Coaches On The Voice
By Chijioke Chukwuemeka
Kelly Clarkson has always been candid about her journey, from winning the first season of American Idol in 2002 to coaching on The Voice and navigating personal challenges. Now, she’s pulling back the curtain on some of the industry’s less glamorous realities.
Reflecting on Early Career
During a conversation on the Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce podcast, Clarkson reflected on her early career, recalling how she had no idea American Idol was even a television show until her third audition.
At the time, no one—including her—realized how massive the competition would become. “Nobody knew it was going to amount to anything,” she admitted, laughing at how fans now view her win as a perfect stroke of fate.
After her breakthrough victory, Clarkson went on to carve out a highly successful music career, delivering hits like Since U Been Gone and Breakaway, winning three Grammys, and eventually taking a seat as a coach on The Voice in 2018. However, her experience in the industry wasn’t always welcoming.
Harsh Critics Who Became The Voice Coaches
“I had no one,” she recalled. “I was the first winner. It was hard. Not to sound like, whatever, but it was really hard.”
She revealed that some of her harshest critics—people who initially looked down on talent shows—later became coaches on The Voice themselves.
Without naming names, she noted, “Most of the time, all the coaches are incredible. But sometimes it’s like, ‘Oh, OK, you’re treating them less than.’” She added, “People that were really mean have been coaches.”
The revelation led to widespread speculation among fans, with some guessing that Christina Aguilera, a former The Voice coach, may have been one of those critics.
However, Aguilera previously appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and jokingly referred to them as “twins separated at birth,” hinting that no bad blood exists between them.
Despite the ups and downs, Clarkson found deep fulfillment in mentoring aspiring artists on The Voice. Drawing from her own experience, she empathized with contestants facing instant judgment in high-pressure auditions.
“People like us who have been there in that audition process, just being judged instantaneously, it’s hard. It’s a grueling thing, and it’s unforgiving in a lot of ways,” she explained.
Stepping Away for Personal Well-Being
But balancing a high-profile career with personal life took its toll. Clarkson, who moved across the country and became a single mom following her divorce from Brandon Blackstock in 2022, made the difficult decision to step away from The Voice.
“I wouldn’t have stopped doing the show had I not moved across the country and been a single mom of two,” she said.
She previously told USA Today that her exit was necessary for her well-being. “Full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life. I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of handling, and also what you should not handle,” she admitted. “I love that family, but I was like, ‘I’m struggling. I can’t smile anymore. I don’t feel like smiling.’”
Recently, Clarkson’s sudden absence from The Kelly Clarkson Show raised concerns among fans. Guest hosts filled in, leading to speculation about her whereabouts.
Eventually, reports surfaced that she was dealing with a family matter. A source assured The U.S. Sun that it was “nothing very serious” but required her full attention.
Upon returning for the show’s milestone 1,000th episode, Clarkson opened up about the challenges she has faced in recent years.
“We have laughed together, we have cried together, sang together, danced together, celebrated, and competed together. I’ve lost, alone, a lot. We created a community and supported each other through a lot of ups and downs—personally as well,” she shared.
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