Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Two and a half years ago, Kelly Clarkson soared to number one with a pop-rock song about a guy she couldn’t do without.

Now she’s hoping to do the same with what amounts to a kiss-off song.

Kelly debuted her new single, “Mr. Know It All,” for fans through her website Tuesday evening.

And, from a first listen, it has all the makings of a hit.  Quite catchy.

And it was followed by a loud “Whew,” from Kelly during the webcast. Because she said she’s been dying for her fans to hear it. For a long time.

It’s a mid-tempo pop song, and the fact that it’s a little different as a single — not so guitar-driven, for instance — helped prompt its selection.

“It’s super sassy. Super empowering. It sets up the album nicely,” Kelly said during what she said was her first webcast, in trying to explain her nervousness.

Among the other things we learned from Kelly:

* The duet she recorded with Chris Daughtry did not make the album cut, though she really likes the song. “It just didn’t wind up fitting with the record,” Kelly said.  “It would have been total left-field sounding. One day (an album track with Chris) will happen.”

* One duet made the cut of the final 13 tracks. Kelly wouldn’t reveal her duet partner on the song, but said it’s a female “somewhat affiliated” with American Idol and admitted she might get in trouble for saying that much. Rumor was, she had recorded with Kara DioGuardi at one point.

* She did reveal two other album tracks — “You Love Me” and “What Doesn’t Kill You.” She said she wrote the former in 15 minutes and it’s one of her favorites among the tracks she’s ever recorded. It sounds straightforward, she admits, adding that she managed to put a dark twist on it, of course. “What Doesn’t Kill You” is likely to be another single from the album.

* “We ended up naming the album “Stronger” because the album is about empowerment,” Kelly said, adding that she “love(s) having attitude” and “raining on boys’ parades.”

* She expects to start touring in support of the album in January. She just finished shooting the video for “Mr. Know It All” and said it’s different from any she’s ever done.

* She said a decision has been made on the final 13 album tracks, but that list probably won’t be announced until just before the CD release date. Leaks of her songs on the Internet don’t make her mad, Kelly insisted, but she said they do “ruin the fun.”

* She said she helped write half of the songs on the album. Those do not include “Mr. Know It All.” She said she liked the way other writers homed in on her and her personality when writing potential material for the album.

* The song from past albums that she enjoys performing live the most is “Walk Away,” because she gets to belt it out and pretend she’s Annie Lennox for a couple of minutes. Not that she’s anywhere near as good as Annie Lennox, she adds, humbly.

* Who would she love to duet with? She says she absolutely must wear down Adele and Miranda Lambert to get them to record with her.  “If I have to be the most weird stalker fan on the planet, I’ll do it.”

* Oh, and a fly fell in Kelly’s coffee this morning, which she didn’t take as a very good sign. Which might be why the chat broke up early because of an Internet malfunction.

But while it lasted, Kelly was certainly personable and charming. In spite of her nervousness.

The album, “Stronger,” is due out Oct. 25. Pre-orders are being taken now on Kelly’s website. And anyone who pre-orders gets a download of “Mr. Know It All” as a Labor Day gift.

Want to hear Kelly’s new single? Here it is.