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Kelly Clarkson's Fierce Cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" Does Elvis Justice

The talk show host and Voice Coach passionately belted the '50s blues track. 

By Jackie Manno

Three years ago, Kelly Clarkson put a unique spin on a classic blues-rock tune, and her passionate rendition will leave your jaw on the floor. 

How to Watch

Check your local listings for The Kelly Clarkson Show.

During her badass cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley, Clarkson sang with the perfect amount of grit and determination, and hit some epic belted notes with a raspy tone that would've made The King proud.

"I love that song," Clarkson commented when the band played their finishing notes.

Listen to the upbeat cover here.

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What to know about "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley

Released in 1956, "Heartbreak Hotel" rose to the number one position on the Billboard charts that year, becoming Presley's first number one single. 

A highly influential song that was delivered with a different raw, edgy style for its time, rock and roll stars such as Keith Richards, Robert Plant, and The Voice Coach John Legend have all said that "Heartbreak Hotel" has helped shape who they were as musicians. In 2021, Rolling Stone placed it on the 347 position on its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list. 

Split image of Elvis Presley and Kelly Clarkson

"Heartbreak Hotel" has also been covered by the likes of Justin Timberlake, Johnny Cash, Cher, Willie Nelson, Adan Lambert, Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N' Roses, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, and more. 

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