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Kelly Clarkson Reveals How She Accidentally Rejected a Collab with Mariah Carey

The talk show host explained on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon that she didn't process what Carey was asking until after their interaction. 

By Jackie Manno

Kelly Clarkson is unsurprisingly a huge Mariah Carey fan, and on a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the talk show host explained how she missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime with the fellow vocal powerhouse. 

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"I did something stupid. [Carey] came on The Voice, and we were working together. And sometimes, I say everything that's in my brain," Clarkson told Fallon.  

Clarkson then explained that upon meeting her, Carey suggested that the two write a song together. However, Clarkson responded by hilariously putting her foot in her mouth without thinking. 

"And then, in my head, I was just like, 'Oh yeah, I don't really write like that. I can't be that vulnerable in a room. I usually just write on my own. And then I walked away, and then my friends were like, 'Do you realize you just told Mariah Carey no?'" Clarkson said. 

A split of Mariah Carey performing and Kelly Clarkson at the tonight show

Clarkson then gave us some insight about her songwriting process. "That's not what I meant! I meant the best writing from me does not come out in that scenario. I'm usually alone. Any time you see my name on a song, I wrote it usually alone."

However, Clarkson clarified that she would absolutely love to write a song with Mariah Carey. (There's totally still time!)

RELATED: Kelly Clarkson Wrote Song for Niall Horan, One Direction

Kelly Clarkson's newest album Chemistry

Clarkson was heavily involved in the songwriting process with her 10th album Chemistry, which was released June 23, 2023. The album includes two breathtaking singles called "mine" and "me," a collaboration with Steve Martin, and it even features vocals from her daughter, River Rose.

Kelly Clarkson: lighthouse

RELATED: Kelly Clarkson Sings Billie Eilish's "Happier Than Ever"

In a March 26 Instagram post, Clarkson explained her creative inspiration behind the project. 

"It's called Chemistry because I was trying to find a word—also, it might be one of the songs on the album—but I was trying to find a word that really described the whole thing," she said. "Because I didn't want everyone to think I was just coming out with some, 'I'm angry, I'm sad' [album], just one or two emotions. This album is definitely the arc of an entire relationship. A whole relationship shouldn't be just brought down to one thing. So there's the good, the bad, and the ugly kinda thing going on. Chemistry can be a really amazing sexy, cool, fun thing, but it can also be very bad for you. So that's why I named it Chemistry. I thought it was the perfect title to describe the entire album."