BB.WHEN “STARS” ARE ALSO “CRAZY FANS”: Kelly Clarkson “GOES CRAZY” Over Toni Braxton’s Iconic Voice – The Emotional Moment That Made Fans “Melt” On The Kelly Clarkson Show!
In a moment of pure mutual admiration that instantly went viral, two of pop and R&B’s most decorated vocalists, Toni Braxton and Kelly Clarkson, showcased the powerful, enduring impact of classic music on a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Host Kelly Clarkson, a three-time Grammy winner in her own right, including for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for the hit “Since U Been Gone” at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, was visibly overcome when her guest, seven-time Grammy winner Toni Braxton, unexpectedly sang a few lines of her biggest hit, “Un-Break My Heart.”
The Power of “Un-Break My Heart”
The unplanned performance cemented the track’s status as a timeless heartbreak anthem. Released in October 1996 as the second single from Braxton’s second studio album, Secrets, the song achieved monumental commercial and critical success:
- Chart Dominance: “Un-Break My Heart” spent an incredible eleven consecutive weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, from December 1996 to February 1997.
- Global Sales: The single has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, establishing it as one of the best-selling singles of all time.
- Grammy Glory: It earned Braxton the award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997.
The conversation between the two powerhouses—Braxton a vocal icon since the early 90s and Clarkson a pop-rock champion since winning American Idol in 2002—centered on the changing relationship with their massive catalogs over time. Clarkson confessed to being a high-school student “bawling” to Braxton’s songs.
Key Keys and Enduring Talent
The moment of sheer “fangirling” peaked as the artists discussed maintaining their vocal keys decades into their careers. Clarkson admitted to dropping the key for her 2005 smash “Since U Been Gone” for live shows, a hit that won her one of her Grammys.
Braxton, however, proved her contralto remains flawless, declaring she still performs “Un-Break My Heart” in its original register. When she effortlessly launched into the opening plea, “Don’t leave me in all this pain…,” Clarkson’s reaction was priceless—clutching her chest and shrieking with genuine awe.
This shared moment of vulnerability and mutual respect between two Grammy-winning artists underscores the lasting impact of generational R&B and Pop. It served as a powerful reminder that truly great music can make even its most successful contemporaries lose their cool.
