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 BEHIND THOSE HAZEL EYES
By now Kelly Clarkson's career has eclipsed any need to mention that certain reality show which catapulted her into Pop Princess territory. Thankfully, this princess still likes to bowl like a nerd an reminisce about Designing Women.
INSTINCT: Hi, Kelly. How’s the tour going?
KELLY CLARKSON: It’s going great! It’s sold out already, and
everybody’s lovin’ it.
What’s the first thing you do when you roll into a new city?
Well, we usually get in early in the morning, and I’m asleep on the bunk on the
bus. I usually wake up around noon, and we’ll go out to eat somewhere, and
then we’ll go out to do something that’s cool. We went to Philadelphia, and we
went and ran the Rocky steps. We always like to do the touristy stuff. [Laughs]
So you don’t head for the nearest Starbucks?
No, I don’t like coffee—which is funny, ’cause I used to work for Starbucks.
Yeah, you’ve had some crazy jobs before everything happened.
Yeah, I’ve had, like, every job!
What was the worst one?
I worked at a zoo in Texas, so that’s, like, working outside in 100-degree
weather with smelly poop!
Ugh!
Yeah! That’s all you smelled!
Please don’t say you had to clean it up!
I did sales, and I had to do my sales right in front of the gorillas. Oh, it
stunk so bad.
What brings out your dorky side?
We go bowling, and I’m a nerd when I bowl. I’m a horrible bowler.
Have you gone all-night bowling?
Oh, the cosmic bowling? Yeah, that’s all we do!
We never see you in the tabloids stumbling out of some club at 4 a.m.
Do you go out a lot?
I do, but I don’t have a huge seven-foot man going with me, so people
don’t recognize me. It puzzles me why stars do that. I mean, for security
issues, it’s cool. But if you’re trying to be incognito—like, wow, you’re really
missing the point! So, I go out, but I’m really good with it. People don’t
usually recognize me.
How are your fans when they bump into you?
My fans are cool! They’ll usually stop, and I’ll sign something for them,
take a picture and hang out for a bit. Then I’ll go about my way.
Well, speaking of fans, you did that tour with Clay Aiken last year…
Oh, his fans are crazy! They’re good crazy, though. They’re supportive crazy.
Did any of the Claymates give you a stern warning to stay away from
their man?
[Laughs] Uh, yeah, a lot of ladies did. And I was like, “I’m good that’s cool!
We’re friends.”
I have to confess that everyone in our office is obsessed with “Since U
Been Gone.” You can hear that song echoing through our offices on an
hourly basis!
Oh, cool! That’s awesome!
Did you predict that it would be such a huge anthem?
I’m gonna be honest with you—no! I got it, and it sounded completely
different than it is on the radio. It didn’t have a lot of drums. The
guitars—there was like one or two, maybe. It sounded very pop and very
bubblegum. I was like, “I don’t wanna record this for my record.” It was
kind of a compromise with the record label. I was like, “If you want me
to record it, then we’re gonna have to rock it up!” So, I got together with
[producers] Lukasz [Gottwald] and Max Martin, and we rocked it out.
Yeah, the heavy guitars totally work.
I hate the “yeah, yeahs.” That’s the worst part of the song for me.
Aw, really? They’re so fun, though!
Yeah, I hate them! With a passion! [Laughs] But that was the one thing I
gave Lukasz and Max. And they let me wail on it at the end, so I was like,
“Okay, cool.” But performing it live is so much fun.
Do you get back to Texas much?
I spend more time on the road. I’m always on a plane or on a bus. I have
a place in L.A. and a place in Texas. But I maybe go to Texas two or three
times
a year, and L.A.—maybe fi ve.
What songs absolutely have to be on your iPod?
I would say “We Might As Well Be Strangers” by Keane. I love that CD.
I like “Everybody’s Changing.”
Oh, that’s the next one on the CD! That’s a good one, too. And then, I’m
in love with the new U2 record. I love “Love And Peace Or Else.”
What do you like to veg out to on TV?
The Cosby Show’s one of my favorites. It’s either The Cosby Show or
Designing Women! I loved Dixie Carter! [Laughs] Yeah, man! Anytime
she’d throw down on somebody, I was all about watchin’! But now I
literally don’t watch TV at all ’cause I’m so busy.
Ever seen a drag queen performing one of your songs?
Oh, God, yeah! One of my friends, Dean Banowetz, worked on the Idol
show. He said he performs at this club where drag queens perform,
and it’s like a show. And Tamyra [Gray] went—one of my girlfriends
from the show—and she said it was hilarious. They performed “Miss
Independent” and “A Moment Like This.” I wanna see that!
I think you’re talking about Dragstrip. It’s a night once a month out
here in L.A.
Oh, yeah! That’s what it is! They say it’s just great.
Are you gonna be getting into Kabbalah anytime soon, like some of
your contemporaries?
No, Jesus is good for me! [Laughs] Yeah, I think I’m good with Jesus. I’m
satisfi ed enough. He fi lls my void.
I guess we’ll end on that.
That’s cool. Have a good day, man!
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