3 Reasons Why I Love Kelly Clarkson

From her recent interview in Blender:

1) On Jesus: "I frickin' love him! He's done a lot of cool things for me."

2) On meeting Clive Davis over her new record her reportedly hated: "I was like, I don't know you very well, and I am not a bullshitter. I get you don't like the album. You're 80; you're not supposed to like my album."

3) On hooking up: "I just don't make out with people. That's a waste of my kisses and time. And it's so personal: It's, like, my face. Plus, I'm afraid of mouth herpes."

Besides cracking me up in a magazine interview, which basically never happens, she comes off as a tough 25-year-old who stuck to her guns when an entire record company was telling her to cave. In a nutshell, she wanted to write everything on her new record, they wanted her to have outside help. What kind of help did they suggest? Turns out Davis sent her a song called "Black Hole," a song that already appeared on a Lindsay Lohan album. Oh, and no one told her. Could they have been more disrespectful?

I haven't heard her new album, My December, but I feel the need to give it a chance after reading about all she went through to get it released the way she wanted - and she did get it released the way she wanted. And how cool is it to see a young, successful, female pop culture obsession be defiant and rebellious without resorting to appearing in trashy outfits and getting busted for DUIs? (And how lame is it that that needs to be pointed out as a measure of her non-lameness?)

Plus, she's already working on her next album which she describes as "country-blues" influenced by Patty Griffin, Ryan Adams and the Rolling Stones. I'm already in line.

So that's more than 3 reasons, but whatever. Our little American Idol is all grows up!

Also check out: D-List Divas: Mandy Moore and Paula Cole.
And: Feist Feels it All. A Lot.