Ever since she was a little girl, Kelly Clarkson has been processing her emotions via pen and paper.
LISTEN NOW: Kelly Clarkson shares how writing helped her navigate emotions growing up
Ahead of her set for Audacy's We Can Survive show last weekend, Clarkson joined Mike Adam in the Hard Rock Artist Lounge to share how journaling in her younger years transformed to a big-time career as a singer-songwriter.
“I kept everything in and I bottle it and then I blow up,” Clarkson shared of her struggles with emotion when she was younger. “The best thing, and greatest thing my mother ever did for me was shove paper and pen infront of me and go, ‘If you’re not going to talk about it, you need to write about it. You need to do something, you need to have some way to get it out.’ That is how I became a writer.”
Little did Kelly know at the time, that habit would lead to a career as a singer-songwriter that allowed her to connect with fans through raw emotion and real life experiences.
Thankful for her own mother’s attention to positive mental health practices, Clarkson — who is now a mother of 2 — is sure to pay attention to her own kids’ needs and help them along just as her mother helped her.
“My kids are both very good at [expressing themselves],” she shared with gratitude. “It’s awesome, it’s funny [because] for me growing up, it was so different. For them, they’re very good at expressing themselves.”
Hear more from Kelly surrounding mental health by listening to the clip above and find helpful resources on Audacy’s I’m Listening page here.
Audacy's I’m Listening initiative aims to encourage those who are dealing with mental health issues to understand they are not alone. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or anxiety, know that someone is always there. Additionally, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988. Find a full list of additional resources here.