The Garth Brooks Song That Helped Kelly Clarkson After Her Divorce
Ending a relationship is often a difficult process that requires reflection and time. That's surely the case when it comes to Kelly Clarkson's divorce from her (soon-to-be) former husband, Brandon Blackstock. Sadly, the aftermath of their particular split has also involved serious financial matters and allegations of iffy behavior.
While that's undoubtedly been a lot for Clarkson to deal with, she has plenty of people in her life who are trying to ease her through this difficult transition. "So I'm going through a divorce and there's been like a lot of books and people always give you stuff to help, especially when you have kids and stuff," the original American Idol winner explained on her talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, in December 2020. She added, "There's so much shame and guilt, and everybody sends you stuff, and I was just kind of working through it."
However, the singer said that there was something else that resonated with her during this period in her life: a song by Garth Brooks. But which tune do you think that was?
This song helped Kelly Clarkson 'nail down the feeling' around her divorce
In the midst of Kelly Clarkson's divorce from Brandon Blackstock, the star sat down with fellow singer Garth Brooks on The Kelly Clarkson Show in December 2020. She used the opportunity to explain to Brooks how one of his songs had spoken to her. "I couldn't quite nail down the feeling," Clarkson said, referring to her split and the emotions she was experiencing around it. "Like you don't want to crap on it, like, you don't want to say that [relationship] doesn't count or matter, but you don't know what to put in it because it didn't work out like you wanted. So, anyway, I kid you not, I was listening to my playlist and 'The Dance' came on. And I was like, 'No, that's the thing. That's it.'"
In the tune — which Brooks performed with Clarkson on her show — he sings, "I'm glad I didn't know / The way it all would end / The way it all would go / Our lives are better left to chance / I could have missed the pain / But I'da had to miss / The dance."
Clarkson explained, "I think a lot of people that go through such a devastating [thing], there's a lot of grief and a lot of loss and a lot of change ... All of the books were helpful, but it's so funny, I guess because I'm a musician, but ... I was listening to 'The Dance'... [and] I got the point."
Kelly Clarkson was inspired to (sort of) 'rip-off' Garth Brooks
Kelly Clarkson has performed some pretty emotional songs during her career, and many of those tunes revolve around the experiences and feelings that one goes through during a relationship. You might have found yourself singing along to "My Life Would Suck Without You" or "The Trouble With Love Is" and possibly "Already Gone" and "Winter Dreams (Brandon's Song)." (Yes, as in her now-ex Brandon Blackstock). Of course, then there is her classic "Since U Been Gone" power anthem.
Following her split from Blackstock, however, Clarkson was once again inspired to write about a relationship — this time, about what she had been through during (and after) her relationship with her ex. While talking with Garth Brooks on The Kelly Clarkson Show, she admitted that she wrote a song that was not quite "a rip-off" of his own tune, but was definitely similar in at least one way. That was clear when Clarkson delivered a little snippet of her song, which will be included on her next album. "Even though my heart is broken / It was worth the dance anyway," she sang, while also explaining, "I literally wrote this whole thing therapeutically for me."
Considering Clarkson was obviously so touched by Brooks' song, it is no wonder that he, in turn, was touched by her reaction to his music.
Garth Brooks reacted to the nod from Kelly 'fricken' Clarkson
When Kelly Clarkson told Garth Brooks what his song, "The Dance," meant to her, he seemed to be moved by the admission. He confirmed that fact a few days later when he talked to Entertainment Tonight alongside his wife, Trisha Yearwood.
While opening up about getting such a sweet nod from "Kelly 'fricken' Clarkson," Brooks explained that "the fact that she [said what she did about his song] as a fan makes you feel as an artist like, 'Hey, maybe you're down here doing what you're supposed to be doing down here."
Yearwood expanded on her husband's statement, saying, "I think it's a testament to the power of music because songs mean different things to all of us depending on what we're going through." She added, "So that song, 'The Dance,' is probably the song that is most played at people's weddings and funerals. Then when Kelly's going through divorce, it's like ... everybody has their own story and that's the cool thing about music is that you can find a way for it to fit into your own story."