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But the press has something else to say…

Kelly Clarkson looks great on the September cover of SELF magazine. But there’s something … different … about her.

Above is the cover shot. Next to it, Kelly is seen performing on “Good Morning America” on July 31. (pictures omitted)

Now some fans are wondering whether or not the singing sensation was a little too Photoshopped on the cover in an attempt to appear slimmer than her frame. The move seems a tad questionable, as Kelly says she is confident with herself just the way she is in the interview.

Read on to see more of what Kelly had to say and what SELF editors think about the claim…
The magazine’s “total body confidence” issue features an interview with the original “American Idol” discussing her thoughts on her weight.
She told the mag, “My happy weight changes. Sometimes I eat more; sometimes I play more. I’ll be different sizes all the time.”
Clarkson says she is fine with her weight and has never had an issue with it.
“When people talk about my weight, I’m like, ‘You seem to have a problem with it; I don’t … I’m fine! I’ve never felt uncomfortable on the red carpet or anything.”
SELF Editor-in-Chief Lucy Danziger said they did indeed do “post-production” on Kelly’s cover, but no more than they do for any other star.
“SELF magazine inspires and informs our 6 million readers each month to reach their all around best. Kelly Clarkson exudes confidence, and is a great role model for women of all sizes and stages of their life. She works out and is strong and healthy, and our picture shows her confidence and beauty. She literally glows from within. That is the feeling we’d all want to have. We love this cover and we love Kelly Clarkson.”
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If you are interested in finding out more about this “controversy” – and what people have to say,  click the first picture. If you want to see what went on behind-the-scenes as well as some of the pictures in the shoot, check out the link in the second picture.

If you’ve been listening to the radio lately, it’s possible you’ve heard the soaring strains of Already Gone, the newest single off All I Ever Wanted. It’s very likely that you thought you’d heard the epic song before, albeit in a slightly different form. Kelly Clarkson collaborated with Ryan Tedder on the track, a dramatic ballad driven by a pounding heartbeat, twinkly piano and swooping strings. Unbeknownst to Clarkson, Tedder used suspiciously similar elements when he produced another recent mega-hit, Beyonce’s Halo.

“Ryan and I met each other at the record label, before he was working with anyone else,” Clarkson begins, gritting her teeth. “He’s from Oklahoma, I’m from Texas; we got along really well and had some of the same influences. We wrote about six songs together, four or five of them made the album. It was all fine and dandy. I’d never heard of a song called Halo. Her album came out when my album was already being printed. No-one’s gonna be sittin’ at home, thinking ‘Man, Ryan Tedder gave Beyonce and Kelly the same track to write to.’ No, they’re just gonna be saying I ripped someone off. I called Ryan and said, ‘I don’t understand. Why would you do that?’”

The palpably frustrated Clarkson claims she “fought and fought” to try and prevent her label from releasing Already Gone as her third single, out of respect for Beyonce.

“In the end, they’re releasing it without my consent,” she sighs. “It sucks, but it’s one of those things I have no control over. I already made my album. At this point, the record company can do whatever they want with it. It’s kind of a shitty situation, but.… You know, you learn.”

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I honestly hope this settles down and people let it go. You have to consider that different voices sing different lyrics, though the tunes are similar. You also have to remember that they’re sung differently as well, that their choruses are different, and the ideas are different. Beyonce’s Halo is about love and support and holding on to what you have, whereas Kelly’s Already Gone is the opposite. It is about love, but it is also about letting go when you lose someone, especially as physically as the Already Gone music video suggests (see last post). This really isn’t worth argueing about, Kelly’s explained it, Beyonce probably will as well in the future. Maybe Tedder will ‘Apologize’ but this is already out there, and like the songs for what they say, and not what others think of it.

After five long diva-less years, there’s a new crop of pop stars set to claim, not to mention redefine, the title.Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Adele and Leona Lewisare slated to perform at this year’s VH1 Divas concert. The show, the first since 2004, will take place live on VH1 on September 17.

[...]

According to the press release, more presenters and performers are expected to be announced in the weeks leading up to the show. As in years past, the show will also benefit the VH1 Save the Music Foundation.

The VH1 Divas series premiered in 1998 with Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion. Subsequent shows included everyone from Donna Summer to Nelly Furtado to Mary J. Blige. The last concert took place in 2004 and featured Patti LaBelle, Jessica Simpson, Debbie Harry and Eve.

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Sounds really exciting! But there’s more, thanks to an email tip:

VH1 is looking for passionate DIVAS fans with unique and interesting stories to tell about how they have been inspired by Divas in their own lives.  They will select 3-5 people (and/or groups) to feature in their upcoming national, on-air, commercial campaign.

If you are:

1. a) A Diva fan, female or male, any ethnicity OR a unique     group of Divas fans (choirs, singing groups, dance teams, sports teams, etc),

2. b) Currently living in NYC or the Tri-State area,

3. c) Passionate about and inspired by Divas in a way that has made a positive impact on your life and with a unique story to tell about it AND

4. d) AVAILABLE FOR A FULL DAY ON AT LEAST ONE OF THE SHOOT DATES:  AUGUST 6, 7, 8 or 9

THEN SEND US YOUR SUBMISSION!!!!!

ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 

12PM, MONDAY, JULY 27TH FOR CONSIDERATION.

Please e-mail 2-3 photos of yourself (non-professional only) along with the answers to all below to vh1divascasting@me.com.

1. FULL LEGAL NAME 
   

2. DATE OF BIRTH
   

3. WHERE YOU CURRENTLY LIVE (CITY & STATE)
   

4. CONTACT INFO: PHONE, CELL & E-MAIL
   

5. ANSWER SOME OR ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS IN 100 WORDS OR LESS:

                         a)  What does “Diva” mean to you?

                         b)  How are you obsessed with Divas? 

                         c)  How has a particular Diva’s music or song helped you during a rough time in your life or inspired you to do something incredible?

                         d)How are you a Diva in your own life?

Make sure to email vh1divascasting@me.com soon! The deadline is next Monday! For more information check out their website.

Alternative titles to this post included: “So You Think You Can Dance: Books a Musical Guest Who Can Actually Sing,” “So You Think You Can Dance Musical Guest: With 100% Less Lip Syncing,” “So You Think You Can Dance: Keeping It In The Fox Family.”

Courtesy of a Fox press release we learn that this week’s musical guest will be Kelly Clarkson. Or as I like to call her, someone with actual musical talent. Sure, she was discovered by FOX’s other hit reality show, American Idol, which makes it seem a bit cross-promotional but there’s no denying: Kelly Clarkson can sing. Kelly will perform her new hit “I Do Not Hook Up” and hopefully, unlike the other musical guests this season, she will actually sing.

While Kelly will be this week’s musical guests, professional dancers Desmond Richardson and Patricia Hachey will perform a Pas de Deux as this week’s guest dancers. You may remember Desmond Richardson for the lovely Pas de Deux he choreographed for Katee Shean and Will Wingfield last season.

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That’s set for this week guys!

Also, more news on Kelly’s new video. Joseph Kahn is the director, and its not known yet when the video will be premiered.

That could all change with her upcoming third single, “Already Gone,” written by Clarkson herself and produced by Ryan Tedder. While the song may resemble listeners of Beyonce’s “Halo” in the opening riff, what will overpower those comparisons is Clarkson’s likeability factor as well as heartbreaking lyrics. Tedder co-wrote both tracks. However, Clarkson had lyrically written her version while Beyonce barely had a hand in it after “demanding” a track like Clarkson’s. Kelly Clarkson’s penned song is a tear-jerking ballad with haunting vocals of having to leave someone. “Already Gone” sums up a previous relationship Clarkson had where it just couldn’t and wouldn’t work, no matter what road they took, someone of the two had to leave and it would be her. It had to be her more so because of her high profile career that prohibits her from making enough time for a relationship.

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Second, I was walking down the supermarket, and Kelly’s face was on the cover of Reader’s Digest. Not cover sadly, just the small box in the corner. I didn’t buy it, but I did check out the article online – which talks about Kelly, pre-stardom. Here’s an excerpt:

Q. On your fan sites, people talk about how you’re like a sister to them.
A. Everyone says I’m down-to-earth. It would be very hard for me to keep up any sort of celebrity persona. It’s just not me. I’m comfortable in my skin. I’m outspoken. I don’t know any other way to be.

I kind of don’t recall saying we’re like sisters to Kelly, but it’s great to know that she’s thinking about us! There’s also …

Q. You have taken your share of lumps, especially around your weight. Does it mean a lot to you to show girls that you don’t have to be skinny to be successful?
A. I recently gave a self-esteem workshop for Girl Scouts in Nashville, and I told the girls that I wasn’t a role model for my weight, because I change. Sometimes I’m thicker when I’m around my family and I’m eating more. Sometimes I’m thinner because I’m on the road and that takes a lot out of me. But I do feel it’s important to talk to girls about weight. They see these images, and there’s no way they’ll ever live up to them. I want them to see someone who is real and know they don’t have to live up to anything.

I think that’s the best way to say something about yourself. Being completely honest – and modest.

The article was just impressive. You can read the full article here. It’s the issue that’s in stores now – and if anyone gets a copy, we’d love some scans. Thanks guys ;]

"Life's too short to keep things inside," says Clarkson. "You've got to say what you feel."

Perez Hilton shouldn’t count on Kelly Clarkson to rush to his defense anytime soon.

The American Idol alum spoke to Virgin Radio following Sunday’s Much Music Video Awards, and among the topics broached was the alleged assault perpetrated on Hilton by Black Eyed Peas general manager Polo Molina.

“I’m gonna be honest with you, he’s gonna get a lot of flowers—not Perez, the manager,” Clarkson laughs. “I do not think violence is the answer, but what did you expect? You can’t say that much crap about people without having to say something.” Check out video of the interview below:

According to Hilton, he was confronted by Molina and Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am for repeatedly calling BEP songstress “fugly” on his site. But then, Hilton says a lot of things.

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Some of the comments on the news story are just ridiculous.

Is every former American Idol contestant angling to get a song on the New Moon soundtrack?

Idol Season One winner and apparent shape-shifter Kelly Clarkson has written a tune, “Empty as I Am,” that she hopes will land a spot in the sequel to the hugely popular vampire movie Twilight.

But does the song have enough bite to make the cut?

Listen to the tune and have your say in the comments section: Do you think “Empty as I Am” would be a good addition to the New Moon soundtrack?

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Also, on a side note, I apologize for the delay in the new layout! I hated the other one, and scrapped it. Working on the new one all of today, and I’m hoping it’s finished soon!

Kelly Clarkson holds up a giant foam camera and snaps away like paparazzi at a toy store in Australia on Wednesday (June 2).

The 27-year-old American Idol alum later her way down a rainy Sydney street to conduct a television interview with Channel Ten

Kelly is Down Under promoting her fourth studio album, All I Ever Wanted, which has been certified ‘Gold’ in Australia.

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