KELLY Clarkson has revealed the “cruel” abuse she suffered from a The Voice coach after winning American Idol.

The 42-year-old said some of her meanest critics went on to become mentors on hit talent show, though she didn’t share names.

Singing powerhouse Kelly was the first pop hopeful to win Idol when it launched in 2002 and has gone on to have three number one hits and 12 top 10s.

She told Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast, “I had no one. I was the first winner. It was hard. Not to sound like, whatever, it was really hard.

“People were really mean. People that were really mean have been coaches. You know what I’m saying? Like, hated talent shows. And they ended up being on The Voice.”

She continued, “It’s like, okay. But people were really cruel at first. They didn’t like it. It took the industry kind of by storm, the talent shows.
“It was a very unlikable thing in the industry concerning the populous.”

Fans immediately started speculating who it could be.

Some suggested Christina Aguilera, who shot to fame in the 90s, was one of her critics.

They said on X, “I’m guessing Christina Aguilera.”
However, Christina appeared as a guest on Kelly’s show five years ago and joked they were “twins separated at birth,” suggesting there is no issue behind the scenes.

Grammy-winning Kelly, who has her own wildly successful TV show, became a coach on The Voice in 2018, using her own talent show experience to guide hopefuls trying to break into the business.

Play Video
Up Next

Today host Jenna Bush Hager’s husband Henry turns red after she spills ‘White House walk of shame’ secret live on air
American Idol alum resurfaces for first time in years on Kelly Clarkson’s talk show as fans say ‘that can’t be him!’
She said: “People like us who have been there in that audition process and just being so judged instantaneously, on maybe not your best performance but you know you can do better, it’s a hard — it’s a grueling thing and its unforgiving in a lot of ways.

“And a lot of pressure for these artists that I don’t think a lot of artists that sell tons of records would be able to handle. It’s a different thing.”

Kelly’s brave and honest admission came after she worried fans by taking a mystery absence from The Kelly Clarkson Show show earlier this month.

It was since revealed she was dealing with a family issue though she hasn’t publicly spoken about it.

Upon her comeback for its 1,000th episode, Kelly opened up about the challenges she has faced over the past six years.

She told viewers: “We have laughed together, we have cried together with beautiful stories, sang together with some people, danced together, celebrated and competed together. I’ve lost, alone, a lot.

Kelly Clarkson on The Voice.
7
She joined The Voice as a coach in 2018Credit: Getty Images – Getty
Kelly Clarkson at SiriusXM event.
7
Kelly has had three Billboard number one singlesCredit: Getty
“We created a community and supported each other through a lot of ups and downs – a lot of ups and downs personally as well.”

Beginning Feb. 28, guest hosts filled in for her, leading to speculation about her whereabouts.

A source previously told The U.S. Sun that she had “needed to be present” at home for a family matter.

They said, “She has been dealing with a family matter and has needed to be present for it,” the insider said, assuring that it’s “nothing very serious.”

Several celebrity guests took over hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show during her time away.

Her unexpected absence was first noticed during a taping on March 3.

Actor Simu Liu filled in at the last moment for the taping, stating, “Kelly isn’t able to make it today. We’re sending her our very best.”