Contrary to popular belief, Kelly Clarkson doesn't have a major beef with Clive Davis. Anymore. So says the pop star.
The 25-year-old Grammy winner took time out Monday to address the reports that have her feuding with the record mogul, animosity supposedly prompted by creative differences and Clarkson's disregard for Davis' wishes during production of her latest album, My December, on which all the tracks were either penned or cowritten by the original American Idol.
"I want to set the record straight on this by saying that I want my band, my advisors, those close to me and my record label to be one big, tightly knit family," Clarkson said in a statement posted on her Website. "Like any family we will disagree and argue sometimes but, in the end, it's respect and admiration that will keep us together.
"A lot has been made in the press about my relationship with Clive. Much of this has been blown way out of proportion and taken out of context."
Some, but not all, perhaps. Last month, Clarkson parted ways with her longtime Los Angeles-based manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, and her planned stadium tour was scuttled in the wake of poor ticket sales, adding even more fodder for the rumor that something was amiss over at RCA Records.
Clarkson told Entertainment Weekly that she had informed Davis that she harbored no hard feelings because he had disagreed with the M.O. behind My December, which is still pretty straight-forward pop but contains a handful of tunes that are decidedly darker than the uplifting hit "Breakaway," off of Clarkson's Grammy-winning album of the same name, and the spunky "Since U Been Gone."
She also said, however, that My December is only one album and, if it tanked, "who cares?"—a sentiment that was likely not shared by Davis, no matter how serene he stayed behind the scenes.
She then told USA Today that she is not a big fan of Davis' and that in the course of their five-year professional relationship he has not, in fact, become a father figure to her.
"Contrary to recent characterizations in the press, I'm well aware that Clive is one of the great record men of all time," she stated on her site Monday. "He has been a key advisor and has been an important force in my success to date. He has also given me respect by releasing my new album when he was not obligated to do so. I really regret how this has turned out and I apologize to those whom I have done disservice.
"I would never intentionally hurt anyone. I love music, and I love the people I am blessed to work with. I am happy that my team is behind me and I look forward to the future."
That team now includes Reba McEntire's manager and hubby, Narvel Blackstock, the CEO of Nashville-based Starstruck Entertainment who signed on earlier this month to take over as Clarkson's personal manager. The native Texan, who sings on McEntire's upcoming new album, has already said that her fourth disc is likely going to be a little bit country.
And My December doesn't look as if it's going to be a deal breaker, either. Clarkson's latest and feistiest effort came out June 26 and debuted on the Billboard 200 in second place after selling 291,000 copies. The following week, it was still holding fast at number three and it's currently perched at number five.