Kelly Always Had A Country Connection
While Kelly Clarkson has traditionally been defined as a pop star, she happens to have connections to multiple genres. One of those genres is country music, which Kelly has been a fan of since childhood.
Growing up in Texas, you can bet that Kelly was exposed to some of the best country music out there. She listened to the classics and the modern hits, and ended up developing a strong appreciation for the genre.
Since becoming a superstar herself, Kelly has often collaborated with country music artists, including big names such as Trisha Yearwood and Jason Aldean.
But the one artist that she has always shared the closest connection to has been Reba McEntire.
Reba & Kelly Go Way Back
The two have been friends for years, and also collaborated on a re-recording of Kelly’s song “Because of You.” Released in 2007, the duo’s new rendition of the song claimed the second spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was nominated for a Grammy.
Kelly’s connection to Reba was strengthened in 2013 when she married Reba’s stepson, Brandon Blackstock.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's love story is proof that timing is everything. pic.twitter.com/2En1t7nxVF
— Oprah Daily (@OprahDaily) September 2, 2018
Even though Reba and her husband, Narvel, eventually divorced, she still regards Kelly, Brandon, and their children as family (Kelly and Brandon split in 2020).
In 2009, years before Kelly married Brandon, she honored her dear friend Reba by delivering an extraordinary cover of her emotional song, “The Greatest Man I Never Knew.”
Singing One Of Country’s Most Emotional Songs
Released in 1992, the song is narrated by a woman who never shared a close relationship with her father. Although she admired him, he never made it clear how much he loved her and never bonded with her over anything.
Because of its deep-rooted emotions, “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” is not an easy song to sing convincingly.
But Kelly proved she was capable of doing the song justice from the second she opened her mouth to sing.
With passion in her voice, Kelly sang as if there was no one else in the room. She was completely invested in the song, which made her performance all the more powerful. It’s one thing to sing a song and another thing entirely to feel it. You can tell that Kelly felt every word she sang, which is why her performance was so remarkable.
Kelly put forth such a convincing performance that we’re sure many people in the audience were in tears by the time she was through. You also may find yourself with tears in your eyes once you watch the video of her singing “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” below.