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Why Topher Grace Says Kelly Clarkson’s 2005 VMAs Performance Is the Best of All Time

Topher Grace compared Kelly Clarkson's performance of "Since U Been Gone" to a Super Bowl halftime show.

By Cydney Contreras

Kelly Clarkson's decision to break the rules during her 2005 MTV Video Music Award's performance of "Since U Been Gone" paid off big time in the eyes of Topher Grace.

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Watch the Season 26 premiere of The Voice on Monday, September 23 at 8/7c on NBC and next day on Peacock. 

The Home Improvement star made an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, where he praised the artist for taking a risk on the MTV VMAs stage. As he put it, "That's like the greatest performance of all time. That's up there for me with like, Prince [at] the Super Bowl."

Kelly Clarkson's 2005 MTV VMA's Performance

Split images of Topher Grace and Kelly Clarkson.

As a refresher, the 2005 VMA's saw Clarkson perform "Since U Been Gone" at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. But what made it special was that rain started coming down inside the arena, replicating the music video, which was nominated for three awards.

RELATED: Yes, Kelly Clarkson Wrote a Song for One Direction — See What Happened

And while Clarkson was supposed to walk away as the rain started coming down on the crowd, she simply chose not to.

"I wasn't supposed to be a part of the rain," she explained. "They were like, 'Oh no, you're not allowed to do that.' I don't know if it was a liability or whatever, but then it was like, I didn't tell them so no one was really held accountable, only myself."

In her mind, Clarkson explained, it just "wouldn't have been as cool" if she wasn't singing in the rain, a notion confirmed by Grace. 

"Since U Been Gone" Awards

The hit song went on to win the award for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video at the 2005 MTV VMAs.

In the Best Female Video category, she beat out Amerie's "1 Thing," Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together," Shakira's "La Tortura," and Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl." 

As for Best Pop Video, Clarkson's breakup tune once again bested Stefani's "Hollaback Girl," as well as Lindsay Lohan's "Rumors," Jesse McCartney's "Beautiful Soul," and Ashlee Simpson's "Pieces of Me."

The awards continued to roll in, with Clarkson taking home the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. 

"Since U Been Gone" Covers

Kelly Clarkson appears on The Voice.

Grace isn't the only A-list fan of Clarkson's pop song, with stars such as Anne Hathaway and more putting their own spin on the hit in recent years. 

Hathaway recently belted out the tune during an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, stunning the host. "Kelly Clarkson, if you do not understand how much we all love that song — everybody here knew it! I love that song," the actress shared.

And America's Got Talent Judge Howie Mandel has even delivered a performance of the song, though his version wasn't quite as good as Clarkson's.

To see Kelly Clarkson back in action, check your local listings for The Kelly Clarkson Show.