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Kelly Clarkson laments the state of country music

Click to play video: 'Kelly Clarkson claims Country music ‘is gone’'
Kelly Clarkson claims Country music ‘is gone’
WATCH: Kelly Clarkson takes on country music in YouTube Q and A – Sep 6, 2019

Only a few days ahead of the highly anticipated debut of her very own talk show, Kelly Clarkson, the acclaimed pop singer, took to YouTube to answer a series of fan questions.

The 15-minute video covered a range of topics relating to her life and career while promoting what the show will have to offer. Most notably, however, midway through her Q&A session, the 37-year-old began ripping on the current state of country music.

Without naming names, Clarkson lamented the quality of modern country stars and hit-makers for more than two minutes, while openly expressing her belief that the industry was superior in the 1990s.

“Country music is gone,” she claimed in the video. “I don’t know who’s making it, but there might be, like, four people.”

Host Kelly Clarkson speaks onstage during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 1, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nev. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcp).

The rant began after one of Clarkson’s assistants asked her to explain a number of slang terms from the web. When they arrived at “farm emo” — which supposedly refers to country music — Clarkson quickly became upset.

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On why people might use the term, the Because of You singer claimed that it was a made-up term “because country music doesn’t sound country anymore.”

Clarkson continued by detailing her annoyance with artists who try to incorporate other musical genres into country.

“Now, it’s like weird word rap, “she said.

While suggesting that she encourages progression in music, she said, “I don’t want to feel like I’m at some weird rock show where they start rapping.”

Kelly Clarkson performs at the Sands Cares Inspire 2019 charity concert benefiting local non-profit organizations at The Venetian Las Vegas on May 24, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nev. David Becker/Getty Images

She kept a tight lid on naming names and didn’t point fingers, but added, “Why are you rapping in country music? I don’t understand it.”

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“Sure, ‘Let’s be progressive,’ I get it,” continued Clarkson. “But come on… It’s not just one. It’s a lot of y’all, and it’s bad.”

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The current host of The Voice then went into the criticism she received upon creating her own country music earlier on in her career.

“I love that when I started to do country, they were like, ‘Oh, you’re pop. You’re not country enough,'” she said. “I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, let me show you this list of the top 20,’ which by the way did not include one female.”

WATCH: Why did Kelly Clarkson almost quit music?

Click to play video: 'Why did Kelly Clarkson almost quit music?'
Why did Kelly Clarkson almost quit music?

“I’m not even trying to get played on country radio,” she added. “Here’s the thing: I just love country music.”

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At that point in the interview, Clarkson shifted her rant to the lack of female country musicians currently present in the industry.

“Y’all don’t play people with boobs either, [but] it’s fine. ‘Oh, you got boobs? You’re not a man, get out of here.’ What happened? Do you want me to go off on how many women were so monumental [to me]?”

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Clarkson’s passionate rant her an abundance of appraisal from avid country music fans over Twitter.

Here’s what some supporters had to say:

https://twitter.com/LindsaySL34/status/1169951251234217985

https://twitter.com/Lexi713/status/1169974167086616579

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The future TV host proceeded to list off a number of female country artists inspirational to her, namely in the 90s. The list included Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Shania Twain and Dolly Parton.

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“Why don’t we all just start putting our 80s and 90s records on and figure out what country music is? What is the sound we like again? Because it’s not what you’re playing on the radio. I’m mad about it, that’s right, because I’m a fan.”

“What is happening in country music?” she asked rhetorically. “This is what’s happening… Y’all aren’t playing country music anymore.”

The Kelly Clarkson Show premieres this Monday, Sept. 9.

adam.wallis@globalnews.ca
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