Music mogul Clive Davis came out in his memoir, The Soundtrack of My Life, but it is one of his protégés who's expressing "It Gets Better" sentiment — to herself. First season American Idol winner and occasional shit-talker Kelly Clarkson has hit back at some claims in Davis' book on her blog. Her missive, of course, begins "Hey y'all." Clarkson continues:
So I just heard Clive Davis is releasing a memoir and spreading false information about me and my music. I refuse to be bullied and I just have to clear up his memory lapses and misinformation for myself and for my fans. It feels like a violation. Growing up is awesome because you learn you don't have to cower to anyone - even Clive Davis.
Growing up is awesome, growing up is cool beans.
Clarkson denies that she ever broke down in Davis' office over the inclusion of eventual global hits "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes" on her Breakaway album. Davis writes that she hated those songs and wanted them to remain unreleased; Clarkson says she merely wanted more guitars on the former.
The best part of her post details a supposed time when she did cry in Davis' office:
I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called "Because Of You." I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a "shitty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me." He continued on about how the song didn't rhyme and how I should just shut up and sing. This was devastating coming from a man who I, as a young girl, considered a musical hero and was so honored to work with. But I continued to fight for the song and the label relented. And it became a worldwide hit. He didn't include that in the book.
She goes on to take issue with Davis' take on the release of her 2007 "artist" album My December, over which they feuded publicly, with Clarkson at one point hilariously telling USA Weekend, "I'm going to be real honest with you: I am not a fan [of Davis]...I do respect him, but I don't want to barbecue with him. We don't braid each other's hair." She later posted an apology on her website.
In the chapter devoted to Clarkson in Soundtrack, Davis says that Clarkson doesn't "like taking direction," describes her as a "winner of a talent contest" whom he can't say for sure that he would have signed "if she had not been connected to the show" and claims that she didn't think From Justin to Kelly was "as bad" as Davis/the rest of the universe. He also calls her "hardworking," "totally professional" and says that her performances on "Gone" and "Eyes" are "extraordinary."
Here is how he ends the section:
It's clear that Kelly Clarkson has a decidedly independent streak, to say the least, and often speaks in public before she realizes the implications of what she's saying. She even made an enthusiastic statement in support of Ron Paul in a tweet during the 2011 Republican primary campaign without comprehending how that would infuriate many of her fans. Those fans, however, are also drawn to her shoot-from-the-hip style. She's definitely outspoken and has built a very loyal following that loves her for it. Indeed, on the strength of her entire body of work, Kelly is now fully established as a bona fide star. With the right future material she can once again enjoy the major level of success she attained with Breakaway.
That's to say he probably predicted a fiery response. It's part of Clarkson's brand at this point.
[Image via Getty]