“It’s Freedom!” (w/ Kelly Clarkson)

Look Mayer, Oh, I see you my own look over there is that culture, Yes, lost Cultu ding Dung last culture Resta's calling. Now here's the thing. We didn't tell the readers this was happening today. The readers is what we call our listeners and the Katie's the finalist publicist. They don't know this is happening. This is a Wednesday drop.

This is a moment of wish fulfillment that I don't think I've ever experienced before. For you, my friend, I can't for everyone who listens, everyone who loves our guest, which is all of America down.

I woke up this morning, my eyes open, and I was like, what do I do? Do I put on like a suit? It feels like Christmas? It's like you know that vibe where it's like, well, it's a big day.

What do I do?

Do I try to look casual? Do I put together the sort of look that's like I don't know. I just woke up like it was a normal day. This is how I How do I literally give it sartorially what it means to me, which would be a full ball gown.

Honestly, you want to meet destiny where it's at Does that make sense?

And you if you wanted to wear a ball down, you should have fucking Warner. It's actually real. The culture number eight. You want to meet destiny where it's at. So there you go. That's in the rules of culture today, Bow and Yang.

We have.

One of the world's greatest singers. I can't even look around the eye, one of the greatest American treasures. It's so funny because you know, on this podcast we say what was the culture that made you say culture was for you? For me? That was our guest And I met her when I was on her show, how to look her in the eye and say, this might be a lot. I might have a full on breakdown, and everyone watching is like, manhole, did they get there?

We're gonna talk about this when we bring her on. But both of you handled that so well when the cameras were rolling, and I'm sure before they were, I mean, this person is and I say this with like full like context of like what the culture was like, how we were consuming things. Oh yeah, she was whin those media player culture oh one hundred. We were downloaded. We were going downloading Biza, lineware, downloading every one wire down.

Remember the family computer. It's a real culture number nine, Remember the family computer. Can I say one thing this person is VHS tape culture for me? Because you know what I did, was I taped on Thank you Fox

We're wasting her time. Okay, here's the thing. Her ten studio album Chemistry is out now.

When I heard the title, I almost jumped out of a window. Yes, she's speaking to me at the right. Honey, my major in college, honey, major in college chemistry? Chemistry? Did you know that he was going to be a doctor. We'll talk about it on Saturday Live.

And look so professional whispering on the mic, not coming in quite yet. But let's waste no time.

Let's listen to this iconic voice say hoo to us. Please. This is insane that we get to say welcome to lost culture?

Is this, Kelly Clarkson, you win for best intro Ever I believe that that you should take it in and let it just marinate.

That was incredible.

I don't think anyone's ever been more excited than we are.

So nice, you held your together something.

There have been times in this very building where you so get this. You did Howard'stern, like yesterday, right the day before. So there was a few years ago where you were doing Howard for Meeting of Life and they had you know, they had like the Howard Stern after show. Yeah,

Could be like, you know, I'm here for a reason.

I started to cry and couldn't do it. I was like, I can't. And then sometimes even thinking about meeting you, I'll start to cry. That's must be insane to hear, you know, it's like unbelievable, Like I don't when you're the person.

You know, I get it, as in like I have people that inspire me so much and for whatever reason, they hit at a certain point in my life and like, yeah, it's like a safe place for me, like musically or actors, like certain movies or whatever.

So I get it. But you don't see yourself that way.

It's probably impossible to fathom the impact that you've had because the thing is like it is that thing where even just like the sound of your voice like makes me feel comfortable because I remember, like I was like like that. I'm sure you do, and like that's part of what we talk about on the show is what was the culture that made you say? Culture was for me, like that thing that made you you? Yeah, I just remember being twelve years old, a little gay closeted kid,

No, it's like an inspiring one.

I can take myself out of a moment and look at something like even if it wasn't me, I can see how and it was like the first season, I can see how something can like resonate with people and especially actually depending on where you are in your life.

Right, that's what is important.

I think it's like smells, sounds, visuals, like all those things like come into place when nostalgia's involved in and that moment, Like for anyone watching anyone win is it's inspiring. It's exciting, even on the voice, even if it's not a person on my team, Like, it's a really beautiful thing to you know, if somebody's achieved something they work their tail off for and then you get to kind of go on the ride with them.

Yea's cool. I remember, just like it's just so funny too, because now it's like we have a different relationship to like what it means to be like on a press tour, like you're doing it now. But I remember after you won, it felt like you were everywhere everything, everywhere.

All it was to say no, and I was so I know, that was so funny. I didn't know one how to say no and I didn't I was just new to everything. But they had they had me everywhere. Yeah, and then overseas, which was kind of cool because they didn't watch Idle overseas, so it was like a different way as well, like coming in to the industry, like in a different way from TV because across the world they didn't see that Sally right.

Yeah, Oh that's so interesting because I imagine and I feel like you've talked about this. I listened to your Glennon episode. By the way, Oh so incredible.

I love her, I love them, I love that.

Was so cool.

But I think you were talking about like there was a long period of time where you didn't realize this, but like coming from you know, Texas and like just being a hard worker, you kind of just like were along for the ride, and it took you a while to like step away from them and be like wait a minute, like this is a little too much. I imagine that being thrust into that is like you can't question it.

Oh.

I remember vividly one moment, and it was I think after I'd toured Breakaway that album like a couple of times, and it just I was exhausted. I'd had like walking intemonia. They say I had it twice, but I just think I just had it once and never went away. But anyway, it was just I was very exhausted.

Yeah, it was pump you full of it.

It'll be fine with the water, you know, It's like, okay, maybe it means I should take a minute.

But anyway, I was just very tired, and it just hit me.

Because I had just gone to like I don't know, the store, just to get literally I think it was milk for like a recipe for something, sure.

And it was a cool moment. It was a woman.

She was very nice, but just talk to me for like twenty minutes, and it was like I was exhausted, like I had just gotten off tours, Like I just wanted to go home and pake this thing, like sit on my couch and not talk. Yeah, but you have to turn it on and you don't feel like it sometimes because not that you're trying to be fake, that you know that this moment means something to this person, and like just pull yourself together for a minute and like you can do it and then you'll be home.

Back, like you can't.

And that was the thing I just kept saying when I was crying to my brother at the time, was like I can't take get back like it just is.

You know, you can't. You can't not be who people know who you are, and you know what I'm saying. Like, so it's like I think that was.

A really hard lesson or hill to get over. But for the most part, it's awesome. It's just this moments you know that you're just exhausted. But I think that was a really good turning point for.

Me well, especially because like the image that people had of you from the show and even throughout your career is like a very like excited positive you know, even like the daytime talk show version of Kelly and I am a very positive yes, but it's hard to be effusive all the time, you know, all the time obviously, yeah, but it's hard to even like I would imagine that. It's like when someone comes up and they have this

Do think what's easy for me though, is that because people are always like, oh my god, you're like exactly how you're in to be. I'm like, I'm I don't try in that sense, Like I don't I mean, if you're feeling like exhausted. That's one thing of like putting your best foot forward, I guess is what I should have said. But I feel like I'm very fortunate I

But with the daytime of it all, I feel like there's this register you're talking to people at where it's so intimate. It comes off as like you're literally you're in people's homes while they're going about their business, and to them it's like an instant. That's the reason why people were so like invested in the daytime wars of like the Oughts or whatever the nineties. It's because as you're sipping your coffee, like you're watching Kelly or something.

Play milk or something.

I should have explained that better. I don't even mean that I had to put something on. I just meant like, be the better version of yourself, not the tired version. Just like you know what I'm saying, like come on, like I know you're tired, but like, just be who you normally are on a regular basis right now, even

Good at it.

So you're a baker. You're not a cooker.

I am a baker. Okaya streets are way more fun.

Yeah.

Do you know about like three years ago, who you had on your show was Tom Sandoval on Ariano Maddox. Do you know Tom and Ariana from BANDR Pump Rules. They came to your show to make cocktails.

Yeah.

I knew they were honestly because I had gone to one of the restaurants. Gave me the down low on the whole thing.

Can you believe? Wait?

Is that the one where they're not together on one of.

The castmates And they've been together with one of the cast mates, So it's like on TV, honey, it's so wow, you really are like off the grid when you're off the grip.

Oh my god, that girl went through that like publicly.

Y Y's it's wild And I was like, I don't know what this is.

Well kind of death of asshole?

Can you not do it?

No?

You can say like, oh my god, to say that word on the This is a podcast where we say way worse.

I'm like, well, wait, can you just like not do it on camera?

Well, the answer is when you're a narcissist, the answer is no, you can go to the depths of hell. Well, yeah, you do have experience the way the transition is happening. We actually love when that happened so naturally, when you announced that this was called chemistry, and you're a little breakdown of why. I literally had to sit back in my chair because I've experienced this rather recently, which is like something feeling incredibly special and the world just like

Uh, well, I didn't even think about the title of the album. Didn't come up for like quite some time, just because my label gave me the space.

It was really cool.

They were like, let us know when you're read, because I was like, I don't know if I'm even going to release this.

I don't know.

I just don't know what I'm going to do, and they really were respectful and gave me space. So I literally just wrote a bunch of stuff for me to get things out, and then when it came down to picking songs. I kind of picked ones that I felt like we're fair game because things had already been led out in the press that were out of my control, so like it was already out there. So I put anything that was already out. I kind of felt like it was fair game. But other than that, I didn't

Not everybody gets to feel this in their life, you know.

So I felt like that word kind of encapsulated like all of the feelings, all of the stages of grief that you go through on it.

So, yeah, because chemistry, it can, it makes things, it unmakes.

Things, breaks things, Yeah, exactly exactly, And like I love that it is this tapestry, this like unlinear progression of like thoughts and experiences and feelings.

It's like you're deafinitly a stream of consciousness.

It's perfect.

I feel like a breakup album, especially as it's tied to like someone's personal real experience, can sometimes feel like a little bit of a calculated thing, right. You can't help it's hard to avoid this notion that like, oh.

As soon as it's announced, people are like, wins the break exactly. That's just weird about its or dead like all of us went down in COVID but we didn't make it. Yeah, I know. So it was like even like hearing people that I know and then they're coming up there, I'm like, oh, I wonder what that's going to sound like, Like what are they going to touch on? You know?

Yeah, it's not that we delight in that.

I think that it's just to connect with someone on a level that you've been there, like you felt that, and you're like, because that's there's nothing like even like okay, happier than ever. When I decided to cover that song on the show Love their Grade, but it was different, like I love her music and I've covered her stuff tons but that song, like when I heard it and then proceeded to be a million of the.

Views, yeah, I was like, I, first of all, how dare you? This is my life?

I was like, you know, it was like wait were you watching? Like so yeah, it was like that's why it's such a great song is it's so relatable. She was very honest about it. And I just that song, Lucius has this album's second nature. It got me through it, man, and I just hope that my album does that for anyone like that, because there's nothing like that. When people go through things, unfortunately, tragedy usually bespokes like some kind of art that is moving.

Wow. I mean it really is true. And I think that's the part that like, as a huge, huge fan of yours, I remember when it came out that like your marriage was going to end. There's like this degree of heartbreak. And there's also this thing because I remember watching you promote Meaning of Life and you did seem so happy and you seemed like, you know, signing with Atlantic, it felt like there was this new lease for you. It just felt like there was this like watershed moment.

Really good question because I've even we're putting the setlist together for Vegas right now, now that I know if you have an request, throw the mat me. We're still figuring out the setlist for each night. It's going to be a little different song O love. But saying that, it's like, yeah, I don't want to sing that, you know, because that was a very hopeful place and a place of projecting like what one wishes and when one hopes

I think it's a beautiful thing to see hope.

And also where's the line of like have I tried enough? Like I'm exhausted, but like is this worth it? There's just a it's a line that you know already has to make for themselves.

Right is it worth it? When it's going to kick my ass? People paid to comment.

People love that song and they relate to it, and it's something special.

So here's where I landed, which is because I went from hardcore pass too.

You know what for a moment in my life.

You know, I was pregnant with my first child, and and and one we're in a different place, is very different. So I'm going to respect that chapter and I'm going to respect what happened there and what I was feeling there is not lost that I did feel that and that was real.

At one point. So that's how I compartmentalized and figure out.

What I'm comfortable with. So like, we'll still do it, yeah, but it's more so for like not only fans, but for that girl that did believe wholeheartedly that that's what was happening and that's what I saw, you know, so and and I know that that's incredibly sad to think about, but.

You know, also it's real. It's like retroactively hopeful. It's like it's really compassionate towards that person that you were when that song was being Yeah, you don't want to diminish.

That's the thing too, And it's like a breakup album or whatever. It's like, I don't want to diminish it down to just like the bad I mean, Red Flag Lector is real, but it is. I'm saying it its already out so but also favorite kind of high is I love?

So it's magic, you know. So it's all real, it's just different stages.

This is a question I've been thinking about with Chemistry specifically, is that it seems like you've reached such a peace and day resolution with like releasing the music. I mean like we're talking to you, like on the day of the release of the album. I've been watching and listening to your interviews where you you seem like, oh yeah, like we've had these songs written for a few years now, and I cannot but think, like, well, doesn't that like

So that's why I almost didn't release it because I was like, I don't want to live in that dumpster fire anymore than I have to, you know what I'm saying, like, and I've done a lot of work to get out of it. So that is actually one of the reasons why I almost didn't. Okay, But it came down to, I think you don't believe it when people talking. I don't know where you're at with what you were just talking about relationship. I am even even we're actually stuff down my feelings for a minute.

God, Hey, look, I'm going to be very honest right now. And I have not owned this.

I want to bound No here's I don't really generally have them, unless that us do with my children. But no, I have never I've been so against it, just because the things I saw in my childhood, so against like any kind of form medication making you feel I'm like, no, there's got to be a better way of like talking to someone figuring this out healthy.

I don't want to numb myself. I don't want to like whatever.

And then there came a point when it was I think it was literally the last two months, like it was right before I ended one of the seasons.

I can't remember.

It wasn't this past was the one before whenever my divorce was happening whatever, I feel like it lasted forever. But I literally I was like, I looked at my therapist and I was like, just couldn't stop sobbing and and I was like, I actually had to cancel something the other it because I couldn't stop crying.

I couldn't stop crying. I just yeah, I was like I can't, I cannot do this.

And it was one of those things where I really had to put my bride aside in like all my childhood issues of whatever.

And that's why I laughed so hard.

I was on Lgsporre for like I think two months because I was like, look, I don't want to be on it forever. I don't want to be that person I want to be. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just have issues with it because of my own things from childhood. But so my thing was I just I can't smile anymore from America right now, Like I'm not happy and I need help. And it was one of the best lessons because she kept trying to convince me.

I wouldn't have made it.

And then by the time you wean off of it, it's like, okay, like I handled what I couldn't handle then and now I have time and space and I took like the whole summer off and I was like, I need to take time to actually yeah.

And then when you can make a decision like that, you judge yourself less. You're less anxious about the ramification exactly. You did something take care of yourself, which is always a good thing people I know, and.

It just was always yeah, just because there's some things that happened whenever I was younger.

It's a thing for me.

But it was a really good lesson and like you need to put your ego aside and like everything aside and like handle someone's trying to help you listen.

Especially as a creative person. I think a lot of people that I've talked to are like hesitant to do something that's going to you know you or make you less creative. I'll be real the fact that now I can wake up and not want to like stay in bed all day because I have this Now I'm more creative, Like I've had breakthroughs in the past couple of weeks, like it's been yeah, and then I realized, like, wow,

Mine wasn't less of myself, for creatively speaking. Mine was just because if you see something when you're a kid and you someone's on something where maybe it was the wrong medication, maybe it was whatever, but like it was literally like the Walking Dead, Like I would watch people in my life and I was like, you are void and vacant of any emotion, like right now. That was a bad experience I saw which affected me, but I think it was one of the greatest things.

That's why I laughed so hard.

I was like, you know it. I say that because like I just wish sometimes And this is why I think people like again anticipate hearing from you through your music about the situation not the type of thing where it's just like, ooh, what was it? What happened? Because those aren't real fans, but people that you trust in a way or look up to in a way because

I mean, Like, I'm incapable of not being honest. Yeah, So I think my thing though, the trick is that I have to wait till I'm ready. So like even with the label, I was like, I can't promote this, Yeah, like You're gonna have to wait, Like I can't, Like I'll break down and go through and won't get through it and there will be no point. So and I'm already kind of known as a crier, so like I mean, yeah, Like I don't even know if it's.

A tourist thing, but maybe it is.

What's this thing where you're surrounded by scorpios as a scorpion surrounded.

By scorpio scorpios gyminnized. I don't have attracted to y'all.

Oh interesting, that's I don't know if I've ever dated a Oh yeah, I've dated a scorpio.

Interested how that go?

No, not bad, not bad, It just just better as friends.

Sure.

I mean this is so refreshing that because people you t help someone you're a Scorpio or a Gemini and they like clutch their damn pearls are like what get away from me?

And I'm like and apparently I'm like magnet.

Yeah, yeah, I think it's friends if you understand that, Like the boundary is oh better as friends. I mean there is compatibility in that way where it's like some signs are more compatible for a friendship in somewhere more compatible for a romance?

Are you an inter astrology?

Like everything? Like I think anything's exciting.

Like I'm like, I literally had someone come on the show and they somebody had give me tarot cards and I was like, so my mother told me that my grandmother was like into it, I guess whenever.

And I was like really, And I never knew anyone in my family and I was like, oh, that's kind of cool.

And I just kind of for fun, like it's like reading your horoscope for me, Like I'm just like I do the car we do it for fun in our camp.

So I don't.

I don't like base my life decisions off it by any means, but I do find it interesting.

I think it's just fun.

Yeah, and I think there's always like a little fun lesson to be learned, Like even from a terror reading. It's it's like take what you want from yes.

But sometimes I feel like, I don't know if you grew up in church and I grew up Southern Baptist, and it's like if you hadn't been in a while or something, you show up and you're like.

Oh are they speaking to me? Like you're like the message was right for you.

So it's like when you read those cards sometimes it's like you take it in and you're like apply it to your life.

You're like this was meant for me to say, and you like go off with it.

Anyway. I think it's fun. I'm not like hardcore.

Yeah right yeah. Wait, speaking of dating, I feel like I have to ask you a question that gets sort of lost in the conversation we go, because here's the deal. If you had said twenty years ago to America that you and Justin Guarini had dated during from Justin to Kelly, we did it dated, No, but we dated after you did it, after Kelly.

It's like I feeling it was months, but it was just like honestly, we could probably both say this.

We just were around each other all the.

Time because just like we're here, You're here, I'm here, and we experienced something very intense, you know. And it wasn't like I won and I was the only one on the promo like Justin and I went around everywhere, just went to tour, yeah, and then made the horrible film. And because I was contractually is no justice, there's nothing, You're getting nothing from me.

I mean, look, it's fun.

Here's why. It's just because when you don't, when your goal has never been to be an actor, and it was literally ball to try and get out of it.

It was the most horror I remember hearing say like when you won, is this true? Like when you won the show? And like there's the moment of my immediate thought, are you serious?

My immediate thoughts because we had just talked about it just to night before we went out there.

Because he didn't really mind.

He loves acting, he loves like he's really good exactly like this is like his thing is forte.

I'm like, this is not mine.

Because if you didn't win, you didn't have to do it. It was only so he do it, yes, And so I was like he wanted like yeah, but because he's into that stuff.

I thought he did because you had like a partner and all that.

You know, it was fine. But so we did like from it wasn't long enough.

It was like a thing we dated. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so that would have I can't believe you guys were able. This is how you know, it was a different time that was able to think we're just kids and.

Tell people generally like we're not those like. It wasn't like we were like, oh, don't tell people. I don't think we ever. I don't remember ever having that conversation.

Right, So was he being a little dramatic a few years ago when he went out on stage and was like, this song it's for Kelly. You know, we'll always remember that time he went out on stage. What song he sang? A song like a few years ago? This is like but I remember like he got out on stage and I think maybe he was embellishing a little bit, but he was like, oh, yeah, it's true. I did have a relationship with Kelly, and this is for her, it's it's gonna be something I remember, you know what I mean.

Lauren, No, well yeah, I will tell you this completely being honest at the time when we I mean, I'm a better writer now, but like at the time when.

We were still in that show, the stuff he was writing was incredible.

Really, yes, I'm talking.

Like Maxwell, like he so talented.

But here's the thing is like sometimes and maybe he felt like he didn't have the leverage because he didn't win.

I don't know what the reasoning was.

We never really had this conversation, but his stuff that he was working on was far superior to what the label had him recorded for his album. Like he was a far better musician and writer than he got to show on that first.

Album of his.

It does suck because I do remember being angry about it, like just personally, because I was like, yeah, I was like, you're incredible, Like, you know, he was far more advanced, like I'm a better writer now, but like I was not that good like back then as a writer, and so it was kind of a lesson for me too, like and I think kind of helped me stand up for myself because I was like, wait, I don't want I saw what he was capable of, and you did not let him do what he should have been doing.

It sucks. Yeah, I remember thinking of this.

What would have happened differently, you know what I'm saying, likely because it wasn't I mean really cool music, like really good.

I mean I just remember at the time thinking like, oh, all these people are going to be superstars, even like everybody did anything, and I remember they sat on that Tamayra album for such a long time. Tomorrow Ray was such a such.

Amazing on Broadway.

Silence.

I saw in Rent.

I feel like, you know what did I also see her in Rent? We saw it together, crush.

She's incredible.

She's incredible, and.

Then like I remember a shocked she was like fourth or whatever she was.

I know, fourth, and then upset even Nikki god Rest like she at the time like had her own thing. Like I remember thinking there was no even Nikki was floored. We all were like what you mean, like for coming in third?

But no, no, I just know, I just mean, like all of us on the set, like the top five, we were like wait what, like yeah, did she just get kicked off the show, Like you.

Think there was some bullshit there. Do you think that they were actually going by the Here's what I think.

I think this is what happened with Tamyra. I have no actual idea.

This is just me even like being a coach on the voice and seeing how things play out with viewers and trinetre yes conjecture. But I feel like people thought she was such a shoe, and like we thought she was going to win, Like a lot of us thought she was going to win. I didn't even think I would at all. So, like I we were one of those I think we were in the thing where everybody thought, oh, she's getting voted for that. Nobody was voting because they

Sure, I think that's what I voted for you two hundred and sixty times every single night.

Oh it's my favorite.

Uh, that was a moment in culture when you sang stuff like that. There were you watching at the time the season one. I remember I was sitting there with my grandmother and you were last that night on Big Bed Night, which was so exciting, and I think is another reason why I think of you and like American idol as the culture that made me say culture was for me, which we'll ask you because you engaged, because it made me realize there was so much music that

That was I'll tell you that was my prayer was. I was like, I just wanted to make it to big band night. I had like seen for the Boys with be Midler. I saw that when I was younger, and I was obsessed with that. All the music from that and even we had to flip, so songs are

Se sing that.

So it was hard to get songs cleared. So we often like were flipping for songs. If two people wanted the same thing and.

I knew that not one of those board I should and say right now, and not one of those people knew what that song went. I was like, I literally asked, just openly.

I remember going, anybody ever heard of for the Boys the musical and neverready had it?

And I was like, cool that I'm not flipping for my song, and I all can fuck up. I was like, I don't want anyone to fight me on this song. You don't know it. That's not fair. I was like, So it was like I didn't have to like flip for that one.

So I was very excited. And so just the way you performed it, And there's these like little tinybe rumors coming out about you regarding Broadway. So now you're in New York, you're gonna be up in the thirty rock fuilding with one. So this is a real thing you might want to like.

It's a real thing.

I definitely have been working on something for like a year and a half already that I could be involved with or don't have to be, depending on schedule, but.

I am taking the year that what a great one with Max's thing. Yeah, No, it's not that.

It's something like I've been doing on my own, like that is not out yet and I'm not opposed to like any other ideas or doing other I'm not.

I just am interested because I grew up in musical theater.

So my goal is this first year at least to get my family, like established, my kids happy in school. So I'm not doing anything right off that because literally I said it in one interview and then it went like everywhere everyone want people were blowing up my agents and.

They were like, well, we went on the phone.

I was like, oh my god, tell them I'm so interested, Like not right at this moment because I just have other things to take care of it first.

Yeah, so that's one of the reasons why I loved moving here.

How are you doing New York?

They well, so they haven't.

Actually we ended in LA with school and we spend summers at my ranch in Montana, so he was through. I was like, I don't know what it was like, it was right Montana was so anyway, So they haven't They've been here off and on for like vacations or whatever, but they haven't actually lived here, gone to school here, done that.

So that's happening right when they start school. So my son is very excited.

My daughter I'm still winning over.

Not York. It's the fact that she just has friends.

Now.

My son is like, my friends will be fine, let's go.

He loves New York and literally, I don't know why we've been here often, but like it just was crazy to me. He was like I think like six years old when he said, like just turned six and we were here for promo thing and crossing the bridge to come in. And I was like, buddy, I mean, why do you like it here so much? Like why do you like New York? Why are you so excited that you're here? And he was like, it's freedom. And literally I felt bad because I was like, do.

You not feel free like where you are happening?

Like no in l A in La, So it's not it's.

Not for remy.

Remy was like, this is New York too.

He is very excited. He loves the walking around. He loves the kind of chaotic energy.

He loves that.

I mean, I think you can tell River Rose that.

Like, I think moving around a lot as a kid, as someone who of that experience.

Too, I think highly adaptable exactly.

I think it kind of teaches you to be that kind of malleable person, and like you get to like meet different people.

I don't know, I just pivot.

Yeah, I know we've had conversations and I've had a similar background to her. So, but it's you can't take away. You can't say, oh, it's gonna be fine. I'm like, I can't promise you it's gonna be fine, baby, Like it might not be. It might be hard for Like, I get that too. I was like, so, I'm not gonna lie to you. I was like, but can't poo poo on it until we try it right again.

It's happening like I'm a mom, can't poop poo on it?

Like it's like, yeah, you talk to your children.

Yeah, I mean wait, so would you ever so now that you are going to be up in the thirty up building, would you never host? You should know?

No, Oh my god, that's not funny enough or cool enough to.

True.

I really do know it's true.

You hosted. Have you seen some of the episodes.

Well, if that's the bar, we're going, okay, yeah, he.

Would be great.

I don't know.

I don't know. Okay, see you're being a little about it.

But I think it because it's a very different are I do like live energy, but like y'all are incredibly gifted because I have done skits or something like I've gone on there and saying, like, done some skits, and I'm like, I enjoy the popping in and out.

Yeah, but that's a big thing.

It's a big thing. But I think you would enjoy just like the seed of your pants ness of it all.

Oh, I do like that part.

You have so much live.

No, no, I don't.

I don't mind live. I just mean, like how y'all are with the que car and the changes. I'm there all day as an artist. You're there all day like rehearsing before you see all the skits, you see the ones that get cut, like you see it's just ever changing, and it's like it's a little bit of a mind fox a little bit.

But I think, like, I think you are perfectly situated skilled, like positioned for it, like I think you're literally downstairs.

This is like how this is, by the way, how they got me to do the talk show? Was like, I don't think so.

It's not that funny.

Yeah, you know.

One of my favorites on was Timberlake. I thought, yeah, he was one of my Oh my god and paid through God.

Don't even.

A little part with.

His idea, which is brilliant. He's funny, so funny.

He's my type of guy. I like funny and will hot as hell. Yes, yeah, there's no limit here, no, absolutely, Please.

We have to ask you the question, which is what was the culture that made you? Say culture it was for you? If you could look back in time at young Kelly, what made you the person you are, Like, whether that's like a movie, a musical artist, something that stands out that now you can trace back and be like that was the beginning of me. It's a big question.

I know, I know.

But the question is this, like the moment where you feel like you found your thing? Is that kind of it? Okay? So okay, I felt like I could.

I don't know.

It was like that was the chair, by the way I talk about.

No, I don't know I'm thinking of two moments, like one one whenever I was younger and the first time I saw this is so basic, but like it was when I first saw sound of Music.

Oh my god, no, I know, I'm sorry. I love it so much.

It's like one of my favorite things. And by the way, when my kids loved it, I felt like a successful. Yes, but I think that was one of the moments that I've felt like just entertainment and just that world of pretend, in that world like musically, I thought it was magical and like the relationship with.

The Von Traffic, I just thought it was like very cool.

But like for me personally, like a moment I experienced was honestly, I sang at this thing in like junior high and everyone was singing like I didn't feel.

Like special at this point, Like you know what I'm saying.

I didn't feel everybody had their moment to shine during this performance thing that we were doing at school.

And I got up there and it just was like amazing all my friends.

Just to be on stage in the same energy with all my friends, just like loving to sing, picking songs, the art of all of it, like figuring it out. Who was the sequence of the show like all of that. Yeah, it was just it was very fun to me and I got up there. I remember its vision of love. I sing visions carry because why not? And I love that gus. I appreciate that. Guess.

Oh my gosh, I'm a Lamb. I'm like a diet in the world Lamb. The Butterfly album.

Every with do I know in my soul?

People ask me why I don't cover her, and I'm like one Sometimes it's hard to clear songs to you don't want to because it's like, why am I going near that? But the main reason is it's I'm almost incapable of not mimicking God. Like you know what I'm saying.

I grew up on it so much.

Like it's like if I seek like Sheer Whitney Sinner like, it's hard to deter from the route I know.

It taught me. Yeah, this is the mariahs time. I want to hear you do my all? Oh my god? Adding if you.

Like not, ok, oh my gosh, Hello, she is that sultry sexy? It's all.

First of all, you chose my all, Yes I did.

That's a real fan.

What do you think that I'm I'm staying and to come out here with emotions like I'm basic. That's a real First of all, it gets a lot thicker and deeper than that. He's gonna be like the roof.

Looking at it like I love. I'm just saying.

I brought friends over to my and put on like my record player, I'll play like the Butterfly. I got really into like Vinyl during the pandemic. That was the thing. Yeah, And then I played the Roof for some of my friends that like didn't get it.

I was just like, I can't be.

From you guys.

Anymore. Yeah, I have COVID, No mine was.

I just feel like it's an incredible thing too, like this span of her career and the span of success, like even her new albums You.

Still Did Caution is excellent.

I look Eagles Square like that whole, like the effects that song came out and I was like, Wow, she had something to say.

People did talk about.

She's so great?

Are you and't haveing right now? These are your two favorite artists and you're talking to that.

Yeah, we could talk forever.

And I'm such a huge fan of being her street team as far as her being one of the best writers ever talk about the songbird and I'm like, great, yeah, vocals for days obviously, but guys, name another artist you can't that's that successful that wrote it all all arranges it, arranges it writes it a lot of our faceavorite artists, Like you know, I write a lot, but I don't write all of it. Nothing wrong with that, not even bashing myself for others, but no, shade, it's just what an amazing moment.

Yeah, that's like the thing is.

And they have the number one Christmas song for like all time it.

Shut up But underneath the tree, thank you.

The year it came out, we did a whole sketch show called Popular and it was every transition song.

Was underneath the tree. It was underneath the tree. Well, thank you. Excellent it was.

I was trying my best to like give it.

Because it was actually more of a tie into that wall of yeah.

Merry Christmas. Yeah, yeah, Baby please come Home. I couldn't think of it. Wow, for a billion dollars.

For a billion, you know, Pitchfork ranked Baby Please Come Home right below Olive one for Christmas?

Is you for like you know, the top recent podcast. That's the thing is. It's like It's not just that song, it's that whole Christmas album that's like.

I know, can we talk about I believe it's track number five.

Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, it's my favorite cold Oh.

My god, oh my god, oh my god, my god. Can we get trag number Five's.

My god, it's five or six? I don't even want you tell me I'm gonna get it.

I'm gonna I feel like a letdown. I'm not a lamb right now. I'm a loser.

While did you listen to her come.

No without you Christmas?

Or I haven't?

No, no, no, no, wait, Oh my god. It's like my favorite.

Ismas time, Miss you Most is the best look I love.

All I want for Christmas is you, but miss you most.

At Christmas time?

Yes? How dare she?

How dare she?

I have cried so many tears to that song miss You Most?

And I will say that song kind of hard candy Christmas and like the carpenters are the reason why Merry Christmas to the one I used to know which Christmas but that's the origin story of that is like my life, but also so like they opened up this whole world of like Christmas possibility with like new music like that you know hadn't been done.

It can be a Christmas song about something that is.

But I like all I went for Christmas dude, but it's great. But miss You Most is my jam.

I couldn't freakin think of the name because I haven't had enough caffeine.

But were there with you.

I'm not going to cover that when this season. Yes, if I can clear it right clearing loves Most, maybe she'll sing it with me.

Can you imagine Christmas queen her?

Several times, I've met her a few times. She's so so oh my god.

So the last time we ran into each other, I didn't even realize what I was doing because she's very warm and welcoming, so I don't get like super nervous.

I did. The very first time we met, I said, some stupid ship. But she's just very cool and like very kind and like I thought.

She took so much time and actually watched the videos for all the voice artists, and I thought, oh, cool, your stand up, Like not everybody that comes here does or gives a ship promote. Yeah, I'm like that was really cool because I've been these people, so it meant a lot to me, so anyway, but she is very cool.

Like to bring stuff that you have done to someone.

Oh yeah, like even this whole record, Like if I'm like any song you see me on, I've pretty much written the lyrics and melodies just on my own alone.

Like it's just so.

But anyway, I start telling Mariah about my process and I'm like did I just And then I walked away in there, like do you realize you just kind.

Of said no to like writing? And I was like, wait what And I was like, I didn't say no.

I just was explaining. I just say whatever's in well and I was like, oh god, I can't write a room together. And I walked away and my people were like, do you realize that you kind.

Of just like no, And I was like, wait, what, We're the same because I do this all the time. I don't even mean to say that.

I was just explained, I'm just so nervous, just I don't know what I said. Like I was like, I don't even know what I said.

It was Mariah fucking carry That's why you don't know what you're saying.

It ring with you, ma'am. You have like a billion number one.

So we got to meet her because this was so we did we did a peloton. You know, Cody raise me from Peloton, so we did his peloton class during Christmas because Boone was on. I was on as a guest, like I was on the bike. It was a talk show, had my Christmas special out, so we were like sort of doing that together. Mariah Carey came out and stood and did like a bit.

I was like, if you tell me this woman walked on a peloton, she.

Certainly did not. I veingue. She stood in what had to be I don't know forty eight in sheiels next to the Christmas tree, said it's time and then like, do you know did her thing? But when I tell you she like had like a moment where she needed to get help getting down from the pedestal. She said, can you help me down? Looked me in the eyes. They had put me in this one because they know

Yeah.

So I helped Mariah Carey safety.

I saved her life. That's what this story is.

Literally, she may not have got She might still be up there if it wasn't for me.

You're a hero.

He is.

My god.

And I just saw her performing the music box. You know when I knew my dad was cool when I saw that he had the music box c D.

Do you know what I have major daddy? And she just don't know mine very little. And he passed away.

But I will say the one thing my father and I had in common was Mariah Carey went to Houston and Aretha Franklin. Really, I came to visit him like once in my childhood, and he had noticed that I had Mariah and Discman, My Walkman, Anti Skip Yeah and.

Anyway you can hold it sideways anyway.

And he started and he was like, oh, I love this record and he started no, he just started talking about right and it was like the one and only time I had a connection with my father.

His music, and it was.

Mariah and he was like, I love Whitney Aretha.

I was like, those are my favorites. Like I was like what, so it was really yeah, Yeah, you had something, you had something.

Yeah, it's great something my dad loved. Jimmy Buffett. I love Marguerita Belle Honey song. As you know by heart, I do the only the only English speaking artist my dad knows. And we know this on the pot is.

Share and you know what ones have one that's a nice. Dad will sing, believe what's your favorite share song?

Because you're gonna hate me for mine? But I look mine shoop, Oh.

My god, I love it.

It's in his kiss, I just look. I love it. I know it's the Mermaids, it's for the movie, the soundtrack.

It's not even my evers Mermaids.

I love it. That's a really good world. She's got so many anthems, almost can't go.

Near those, but then again, if I could turn look not just me like to pick that, to pick a favorite out of them.

If I could turn back time is like for all time. That's a good karaoke song too. You ever go to the shoe this kiss? That's true karaoke last night and like singing, I do not hook up well.

And here's the thing, no one told me, like really what I was walking into.

And they were just like, hey, if we throw a party, like fans are coming and it's released, and I was like all right.

They invited, well, so I.

Came and then they were like, well, if you want to get on stage, and I was like, my voice is shot because I've literally been up five every morning and working all day. And I was like ah, I was like, maybe i'll do harmonies cut to shredding. I have no voice today, and because do.

We have no monitor either? So I was like it yelled like hear yourself.

But anyway, but somebody goes I want to do I don't know how coup and I was like, are you serious?

I have not formed that song though, and like for a decade, like you did that on SNL and you give an iconic riff at the end.

I literally I forgot it.

I don't want to miss uh.

Yes.

I was like, it's just been a.

Minute for me, Like for a lot of those songs, I was like, looking at your lyrics, we love you, Katy Perry, Katy Perry and long Shot.

She wrote that one, Oh yeah, I Love All I Ever Wanted is a special album for me because that was like when we were in college.

That was when you were in college. I remember going home, just being on the plane. That was before iPhones, before like you could like street, you know, downloads. I just had had that entire album on my iPod and I listened to the entire album for the entire six hour flight.

Just I love that album so much. You know, it's one of your my favorite songs of yours. Ready I love Oh my god, if you knew what that song was about, what could we find out?

Oh that is such a sad well, it's like it's a really sad so have you do you know? Irvine?

Yeah, of course, the same dark place. Really Yeah.

So I'm ready now is really just like look, I'm done, like you can just take me like I'm yeah.

That song I was playing during the almost at the time.

Literally I know, but that song is actually literally about just like not living anymore?

Are you cash? Yeah, because they really made it sound happy.

No, I know that was my point. Yeah, that I made it like how I wrote it was like kind of whatever.

But my I told my producer, who was Jason Halbert and my musical director at the time, are always I.

Know twenty years now.

Wow.

But he when he found out, he was like, oh my god, I love that song, but now that I know what it's about, he was like, I hear the lyrics.

Like I just remember skipping along on the streets of New York. I had just gotten into Tish, and I feel like.

Now I'm like, oh, I know, it's actually really sad.

I always had my memory of that girl I was skipping in New York for ready, and you won't take that from me.

You will not take them, Okay. But it's like sometimes you're sad, you know sometimes yeah, sure so, but yeah, I don't.

I don't know that everybody really knows that things are usually about. But that's the cool thing about music, though you hear it. I don't know either for different artists like that they write, but like, I think that's what's cool.

You take what you need from it or what you see in it.

Yeah, I think do you do that a lot though, where it's like a happy sound quote unquote, but it's like, I mean, the lyrics are like if you take a closer read on them, it's like whoa, whoa, whoa, this is dark, you know, or the other way around.

I'm happy in bubbly, but I think if you're able to experience, like, I'm just a passionate person either way, Like, so I can go real dark like, but I can also be real bright.

So you know, it's finding that balance.

Is this. I think every singer should have a Glennon Doyle era should have like a Love Warrior era should have Arene Brown era.

Did you watch her thing on HBO Max? Now it's Max. I don't know what do you call it?

I have not seen that when I've seen her, Like Ted talks a.

Twenty milligram weed seltzer down in front of the heart to receive.

I don't smoke anything. Yeah, I enjoy gummy.

You enjoy it, but I don't.

I'll never smoke any I don't enjoy. I just don't enjoy that either. I tried like vaping once and I was like, this is who vaping.

For your voice than even smoking joints.

But I just meant like I just I was like, well, I don't not get too dry, but like, yeah, that's not my vibe.

No problem. So just to ask about like your actual instrument this is And I'm not being like I'm not blowing smoke, but you really do get better as time goes on, Like I don't know if you feel like your voice is capable, agree.

Because I feel like whenever, even when I was young, like like I that's the biggest joke between because I had to watch something from Idle for some interviewing. I was in there like, hey, can you watch this? We're gonn reference it. And I went back and watched it and I was like, how did I win that show?

But you know what, you know what the thing is like it was totally different. My voice was very different.

It doesn't even like miss independent like I wrote I wrote on that and like even writing that, I remember when I first came out started saying that like the verse to that was so incredibly difficult for me to reach, like the highs and lows that my range was just not what it is now like now it's a cake walk,

I just had to ask because it's like it really does it get I wonder if it's something you were doing or just like maybe just like as you get older, just like you know your instrument better.

It just I think you know your instrument better, you've tore, you get a better endurance and stamina you and you also learned to say no. You learn to like no.

I'm not going to be like this whole trip.

I didn't really sing a bunch of places because I was like, look, if you want me to be talking everywhere, you need to know, like I'm an actual vocalist, Like I can't be waking up at five am and going to bed at eleven, you know, or twelve and then like killing it vocally like it's not gonna happen. So we picked our moments of like what we were going to do. But like, yeah, you just have to know how to say no and yes, and also you know best.

Because it's your literal voice and you're.

Yeah, and like everyone's because my favorite thing whenever I first started touring is like, well, this artist does four shows, four shows in like five days.

I'm like, okay, cool, that artist is dancing wonderfully.

Yeah, but that artist is not not necessarily.

Do my sel in a dream world rights because it's a huge setlist. It's just like, you know, it's like, that's a completely different artist that you just mentioned. I was like, which is a great artist, by the way, but I was just like, don't compare me to someone who's completely different and like miming basically every night.

I'm like, I could do that too.

Yeah, they're having us like wrap up where.

We wrapped up from like five and what I'm saying, it's going to.

Be homophobic if you don't allow us to do I don't think so, honey. We're doing We're doing everyone.

Yeah, we're gonna do it.

We're doing it.

What do we do this is?

I don't think so, honey. This is our famous segment. I don't think so that we do on our show, which is we for sixty seconds. We ran to get something in pop culture that is grinding our gears. It's a way to expel our demons. We're gonna go Okay, they're gonna love it. They're gonna I'm gonna go first, then bow and then you.

Start with I saying I don't think so honey, blank the thing all right, Matt Rogers, I don't think so many as time starts now, I don't think so, honey.

Fucking with the ocean. Okay, I could have called you this years ago. Honey, don't go in there. Don't go down there because I'm telling you what. Oh my god, the submersible, yeah, dove, of course that happened, and God rest. But also I don't care how many billions you have. It's not a good idea. I don't think so, honey, going down to the Titanic.

Wait, can I tell you something?

No?

And also not for nothing, but you know who I think was involved in this. The Orcas are coming something, so honey, that the Orcas are organizing. But yes, I do, because we've been fucked up to the Orcas. Tell it them, we see you grow wherever you're at. We Representalkham telling them God rest. I don't think some honey, even going into the ocean. You couldn't get me that submersible in the deep end of a pool. Let alone to the deep.

I don't even like eels seals fish.

No one seals fish now.

Oh wait, wait wait, I did see this thing on the Discovery thing that was really cool. I think it was with will Smith and he went down and like a pod net looked different than what.

The stay on lamb. No, I'm telling you.

It's beautiful though, Like I'm glad he did it so I don't have to, and we got the footage. I don't want to, but I'm glad someone does it because it's amazing to see what's down there. They went like down where like you know, people don't when you generally go, So that is cool. I see why people would want to do it.

But Kelly, okay, right to have one else.

Kelly, when I say this sentence, how do you feel we know less about the deep than we do about space?

I am?

I am.

Since I was a kid, I literally wanted to be ranbotsis like I remember, I love the ocean.

Jaws did run that for me. But but I I just I love it. I think it's it's amazing.

I do think exploring it is interesting, but exploring it respect like with respect, with respect much larger than us and like.

You know, as count like you know what I'm saying.

I think we're destroying you know a lot of marine life, you know, so I they do it respectfully.

But I do think it's interesting because you can learn a lot.

You never know, like scientifically speaking, what could be helpful, you know, basically.

Speaking, Like I think they're things like you know, I don't know. I don't know.

There's I don't want to do it, like, but I'm not someone else to do it, so I have the footage to leave it.

Believe we've seen it. Like just everyone stay on the land. And also like did you see the video of what the submersible was. It's like a psych a genesis.

Its like a PS two or something.

It's any we programmed and a control for an Xbox to control this fucking thing.

Anyway. Wow, okay, this is mine's about this thing too. Right here we go. Wow, Okay, this is topical culture. This is bowing. I don't think so many as time starts now, I don't think so honey.

These five people going to a fucking coffee shop right before they get on the submersible. These they interviewed the barista who talked to them, who gave them their coffee before they stepped into this little capsule.

Are you talking about like who who's gotta go?

Well, yes, because you're giving these people cold bruds before they go to the bottom the ocean where they have a fucking toilet. That's like they thought they were only going to be there for two and a half hours. And these poor people, I mean, may they rest. It's your lives have been thirty seconds. But you don't go to a coffee shop before even like an elevator ride.

I don't do that performing on stage.

I'm just going on stage like you got it. You gotta keep it all like you gotta keep it all together. You got to keep it all together.

You'll be about timing.

It's all about timing.

You are going on a you have to on a fast before you go into the submersibles.

I guess yes.

And look, it's so sad what happened this this company Ocean Drive whatever there. It's supposed it's because it's titanium and they worked in a carbon I don't know all about I've just been That's why it's fascinating.

It's sad it's fascinating. It's so I'm gonna say it's it's just fascinating. It's giving Triangle of sadness. Did you watch the movie Triangle of Sadness?

Did I love it?

The pal this scene that went on for decades, It was like everybody kept I Woody Harrelson.

I'm telling you what. That man is a genius.

I love that them getting drunk with the captain and yeah, And I didn't know what I was walking into.

Like I just was at home my kids, like they're usually with me, but when.

They go to their dad's like four days out of the month, I'm like, what, what do I want to watch this adult?

And I was just like, I'll just put this on. And then I was like by the end of it.

I was like, what the hell did I just watch?

Yeah?

So good? Yeah, okay, okay, this is Kelly.

No no, no, no, I get to go.

You will not take it from me, And I understand, but I don't think time starts now.

I don't think so, honey, did anybody see social dilemma? Why are we all hooked to our phone? Like I'm selling an old person. But it's just like, why are we that interested in someone's coffee and what like?

Not?

You like, like, like why are we so interested in everybody else all the time? Why does everything need to be validated via It's just sad. It's a sad thing to live your life for likes. It's a sad thing that we project on our children, Like why are you letting your children do this?

Anyway? Do you?

There's your life how you want to.

But it literally drives me nuts because I feel like it's just dumbing us down anyway.

I know I sound like a forty year old, like I over it. I'm like, okay, whatever, that's all I'm saying.

All right, period, there you go said, touch grass, touch grass.

Yeah, there's all different kinds.

Gummy, don't people would be happy? I can't believe that you gave us so much time. This is so cool. Thank you so much for doing this.

Hey, I can't wait to do it again. I'm like in New York now, I know I'm just stop by.

I don't want to leave you, and there is an open door policy for you.

Don't invite me. Mom will show up.

Thank you, congrats on the album. It's so good.

Thank you.

And we do end every episode with a song. Okay, I am thinking starts there. If you want to hear that. Hopefully maybe she'll do it August eighteenth of Las Vegas, when.

We're mile that's the last day.

Okay, okay,