#KC7 era

[clarksoncentral]

Kelly Clarkson, Title TBD, Date TBD

With a new home at Atlantic Records, the pop star is embracing a fresh sound inspired by R&B and soul music. “I’ve actually always wanted to make this album,” she told EW in Sept. “We don’t need to hear ‘Stronger’ again, or ‘Since U Been Gone.’ It’s time for something else.” Longtime fans shouldn’t worry, though: Clarkson said her next set of songs will take her back to her American Idol days, when she regularly covered the likes of Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. During conversations with her team at Atlantic, Clarkson explained, “I was like, ‘Look, this isn’t different. This is what the people voted for.’” So far, she’s finding inspiration in some unlikely places: One song, which addresses domestic violence, was inspired by the character Celeste from Liane Moriarty’s novel Big Little Lies. Said Clarkson, “It feels like I’m a brand-new artist again.” —N.F., with reporting by Isabella Biedenharn