Unveiling the Heartbreak: Kelly Clarkson's Chemistry Album Brings the Best Lyrics

After going through a tumultuous divorce with Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's latest music takes on a new meaning as she channels her emotions into breakup anthems – a subject she knows all too well. The former American Idol contestant and her manager-turned-husband tied the knot in 2013 after dating for two years, but in June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce.

According to an insider, their issues had already escalated on multiple fronts, but being quarantined together during the pandemic made it worse to the point of no return. This led to a complicated court battle over custody, finances, and property, which lasted for almost two years. Eventually, the couple reached a settlement, with the Grammy winner agreeing to pay Blackstock $45,601 per month in child support until their children reach the age of eighteen, graduate from high school, or become self-sufficient. In addition, she was ordered to pay monthly spousal support of $115,000 until January 2024, along with a one-time, tax-free fee of $1,326,161.

Clarkson was awarded primary custody of the children, but Blackstock and the "Since U Been Gone" singer share joint physical custody. During this transitional period in her personal life, Clarkson used her experiences as inspiration for her 10th studio album, which she wrote while hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Clarkson disclosed to Variety in June 2022 that she and her producer had a good laugh reminiscing about the time they wrote 25 songs in a week, many of which ended up on her upcoming album. She revealed that most of the songs were written almost two years ago but she couldn't talk about them until she had gone through the experiences they were based on. As a result, the album's release was delayed. To keep her fans entertained, she released Christmas music during the past two years. In March 2023, she confirmed the album's title, Chemistry, was inspired by her past romantic relationship.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock Matt Baron/Shutterstock

After nearly three years of work, she has decided to release her latest project, an album titled Chemistry, as she revealed on Instagram. The title was chosen to encompass the entire span of a relationship, not just one specific emotion. It represents the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of chemistry, which can be both amazing and harmful. The album is set to be released on June 23rd, and Us has already begun analyzing its most revealing lyrics.

‘Red Flag Collector’

Kelly Clarkson has shown her resilience in the face of adversity, referencing her divorce settlement and decision to legally change her name in her music. The lyrics of her song suggest that she is unbothered by the situation, stating, “Sure, you can have the towels / You can take my money / Drag my name ’round town / I don’t mind, I changed it anyway.” It has been reported that Clarkson not only dropped her ex-husband’s name, “Blackstock,” but also made a slight alteration to her first and middle names, now going by Kelly Brianne professionally.

Clarkson alludes to their disagreement over the Montana ranch in the chorus. Although she had wanted to sell the property from the start, Blackstock, who had expressed his desire to leave the entertainment industry to become a full-time rancher, was ordered by the court to cover the costs of the land. Clarkson could only sell the property if he failed to make the payments, and Blackstock was given a 5.12 percent share, which amounted to $908,800 of its total value of $17,750,000. In the lyrics, she sings about not minding Blackstock's posturing and cowboy persona in the Wild West, stating that taking the high road is what she does best and that she is content with whatever is left.

‘I Hate Love’

Clarkson revealed during her June 2023 performance in NYC that the inspiration behind this song stemmed from a complex emotional experience where she felt both anger and love towards someone she could not tolerate.

Comparing the idealized love story of The Notebook to the messy reality of It's Complicated, the singer expresses her disdain for the concept of love. She even takes a jab at her ex-husband's financial gains in their divorce, lamenting how she feels used and taken advantage of: "Every day feels like a battle, as I slowly lose it all. Love has betrayed me, and you're counting your blessings on my downfall."

‘Favorite of High’

Clarkson’s song emphasizes the intoxicating effects of being in love: “You make me feel alive / Running through my veins like a drug / And I want you to know / I try to resist, but I can’t / When it comes to you, I lose control / You’re my addiction, my favorite kind of high.”

‘Mine’

In her song, Clarkson describes the pain of having someone take credit for her accomplishments and happiness. She expresses a hope that this person will one day experience the same feeling of invincibility and joy, only to have it taken away by someone else - just as they did to her. The lyrics may be a reference to the legal battle she faced with Brandon and his father, Narvel Blackstock, which was a difficult and emotional time for the singer.

Clarkson is currently embroiled in a lawsuit with Narvel's Starstruck Management Group, who managed her for over a decade. The suit, which was filed in 2020, claims that Clarkson owes the management group $1.4 million in past dues and an additional $5.4 million in future commissions. In response to the suit, Clarkson accused Starstruck of violating California Labor Code. In the chorus of her song, she references the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where Kate Winslet's character erases the memories of her ex after their breakup. The lyrics convey the pain of heartbreak and the confusion that follows, questioning if their love was ever real and wondering why she still misses them.

‘Me’

According to a source, Clarkson's lyrics suggest that her ex's insecurities contributed to the end of their relationship. The same source revealed that the couple had been struggling for a long time, with Brandon feeling jealous of Kelly's successful career as a high-earning talk show host and star of The Voice.

In the final chorus of the song, Kelly Clarkson appears to contradict the sentiment expressed in her 2015 track "Piece By Piece," where she credited Blackstock with restoring her sense of wholeness following her father's abandonment. In "Me," she asserts that she is capable of fixing herself and does not require anyone else's support or love to do so. The lyrics convey a message of self-reliance and self-love, as she confidently declares that she has put the pieces of herself back together and released the pain she had been holding onto. Ultimately, she emphasizes that she does not need someone else to complete her, as she has already found fulfillment within herself.