Kelly Clarkson offers a deeper look into the story behind her latest track, “I’d Be Lyin’.”
At 44 years old, Clarkson dropped this intriguing new song on Friday, July 17. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a conversation with an enigmatic individual.
“I’d be lyin’ if I said I do / You’re hearin’ only what you’re wantin’ to / I take a shot every time you lie / I’ve never been so damn drunk in my life,” the lines convey.
During a recent discussion on her SiriusXM channel, The Kelly Clarkson Connection, Clarkson delved into the song’s underlying meaning. “The essence of ‘I’d Be Lyin’,’ stems from dialogues where despite what you articulate, the listener only hears what they wish,” she clarified. “If I simply mirrored their desires with my words, I’d be dishonest.”
Where would we be without Kelly Clarkson? From dominating the music charts to weathering a high-profile divorce and navigating the joys of first-time motherhood, she remains a force. Born on April 24, 1982, in Fort Worth, Texas, her prodigious talent was unmistakable, paving her way to victory on the inaugural season of American […]
Clarkson noted that she had a specific vision for how the “anthem” would sound.
“The vibe in the verse is kind of, it’s not like Prince, but it’s definitely Prince-inspired with the staccato kind of poppiness of it,” she said. “It has a lot of attitude, and then the chorus kind of opens up into this major pop-rock vibe that is very reminiscent of a Kelly Clarkson empowerment anthem.”
She continued: “But yeah, it’s very sarcastic and it was fun as hell to make, and I like a fun, anthemic, sarcastic song.”
“I’d Be Lyin’” is Clarkson’s first single since 2025’s “Where Have You Been.” She previously credited the romance between Martin Short and Meryl Streep’s characters in Only Murders in the Building for inspiring that song.
“I’ve rarely done something like this, but I was watching Only Murders in the Building — it’s Martin Short’s face,” she shared on The Kelly Clarkson Connection at the time. “He says to Meryl Streep’s character in the show, ‘Where have you been?’ He’s, like, in awe and I was like, ‘Has there been a — has anyone written a song?’ Because the song is happy. It’s like you found something that you thought was almost basically a unicorn and did not exist.”
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The song references Steve Martin’s 2009 romantic comedy It’s Complicated, which also stars Streep, 77.
While Clarkson returns her focus to music, she’s preparing for the end of her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. She confirmed in February that the series will end after its seventh season, telling fans via Instagram that it was “not an easy decision.”
“This isn’t goodbye. I’ll still be making music, playing shows here and there, and you may catch me on The Voice from time to time… you never know where I might show up next,” she added at the time. “But for now, I want to thank y’all so much for allowing our show to be a part of your lives, and for believing in us and hanging with us for seven incredible years.”
Earlier this month, Clarkson celebrated the show’s 11 Daytime Emmy nominations, writing via Instagram, “Thank y’all so much! I’m so stoked for our whole team and feeling very blessed ❤️.”