Kelly Clarkson sings the stories of Cassie’s life

 

Hello my lovelies. A few weeks ago, we went to the Kelly Clarkson concert here in Dallas, and it was amazeballs. If you have been to one of my shows since 2002, more than likely you saw me perform a Kelly Clarkson song. I’ve done so much of her music in my shows that I feel like I owe her royalties. She has made me a lot of money over the years. She is my go-to artist that I know is always a crowd pleaser.

As drag queens, we all have artists whose songs we love to perform. I love doing Kelly’s music because I feel like her voice looks like it could possibly be coming out of me. I love Ellie Goulding, but something about her voice doesn’t seem like it would match me. Tori Amos, too.

I can’t imagine her voice coming out of a big ol’ lady like me, but Kelly has a strong voice that lends itself well to a fabulous drag queen.

I have been a nearly-obsessed Kelly fan since 2002, when she won American Idol. I had a show the night of the finale, so I timed it to where I would get to the club before they announced the winner. I even called to make sure that the TV in the manager’s office worked and would be set to Fox so I could find out if it was Justin or Kelly. I had voted like a mutherfucker the night before, so I was invested. Small-town cute Texas girl with a fabulous voice — I was all the way in.

The last 15 minutes of the episode, the manager’s office got packed as we all crowded around a little old-school television to find out the results. Oh Mylanta, when Ryan Seacrest announced her as the winner, we all cheered like we had just won! We boo-hoo’ed as she sang “A Moment Like This.” And when her voice broke with emotion while she was singing, so did I — I was a blubbering mess. I was amazed at how much I adored this girl.

I worked at a music store back then, and by the end of the week, we couldn’t keep the single of “A Moment Like This” in stock. They sent us boxes and boxes of the single, and they would be gone in hours. (For those of you young folks, back in the day we would have to go to a store to buy a CD. No streaming — you actually had to leave the house to buy music. I miss music stores.)

Fast-forward to 2003: March 29 was my first date with my now-husband. Then that August, Kelly released the single “Miss Independent.” I swear that song was about me and what I was feeling at the time. Every time I heard that song I would get emotional. I know — I’m such a puss. But seriously, even today that song hits me in my feels. I went from being Miss…ter Independent and not needing anyone to being head over heels in love.

After that, it seemed like every song she did was made for me. “Behind these Hazel Eyes” … Bitch, I got hazel eyes. “Because of You” … I am a child of divorced parents with daddy issues. Hell, even her heartbroken break up songs I could relate to. I was fucked over by a lot of guys before I found my Mr. Right. “Never Again,” “Sober,” “Stronger,” “My Life Would Suck Without You,” “Already Gone” — so many songs that I connected with. From upbeat and dancey to slow with lots of drag drama, I found my muse.

Then came “Piece by Piece.” Dammit Kelly! If you don’t know the song, you should. It’s about how her dad abandoned her and her family, and how it took her husband to rebuild her faith in what a man and father should be. It gutted me. My daddy issues are different than hers, but they are still there. Every time I have seen her perform that song, it is like a flood of emotion. She gets in her feelings and needs a moment, and so does every person watching. It is such a powerful thing to experience.

A few years ago, a friend of mine named Tyson — who is probably Kelly Clarkson’s biggest fan — told me he won a VIP experience with her before her concert and asked if there was anything he could tell her from me. I gave him an autographed, framed picture of myself to give to her, and asked him to tell her thank you for giving me so many songs to perform in my shows. He actually gave it to her! I am not so ignorant to think that she still has that stupid picture of me, but I like to imagine that she has a huge room of memorabilia from her tours and fan meet-and-greets, and somewhere in that room is a framed picture of Cassie Nova, and she finds comfort in knowing that there are drag queens all over the world that are killing it to her songs.

Kelly is getting her own talk show soon. I think I should make it a priority in my life to get on her talk show, even if it is just in the audience for a taping. In her concert the other night, she wore this beautiful, red-shoulder-sleevey-drapey ensemble that went almost to the ground. Would it be weird if I had it made and wore it to her show? Naaah! That’s not weird at all for daytime television!

If I could get on Ellen and Kelly’s talk shows, I would die happy. I am just gonna put that out into the universe and see what happens; you never know.

I must go now; I have a show tonight. I wonder which Kelly song I will do tonight? Come out and find out! Remember to always love more, bitch less and be fabulous! XOXO, Cassie Nova