Kelly Clarkson will perform her cover of “American Woman” at the CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night, but you can watch the music video and hear the full song ahead of her performance, above.
The “American Idol” alum’s cover of The Guess Who’s 1969 classic will serve as the theme song for the Paramount Network’s upcoming series “American Woman.” Loosely inspired by the upbringing of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Kyle Richards, the show stars Alicia Silverstone as an unconventional mother struggling to raise her two daughters after leaving her husband. Accompanied by her best friends, played by Mena Suvari and Jennifer Bartels, she strikes out on her own in 1970s Los Angeles.
Clarkson’s version of the song is a barnburner, with her powerhouse vocal performance turning the gender-flipped lyrics into an anthem for female empowerment.
“There are all these things that we love and we felt we wanted to represent ‘American Woman’ and the whole lyric of it,” Clarkson said in a behind-the-scenes clip of the recording process. “The strength and the boldness and the powerfulness I feel like American women exude.”
“When we started building the marketing campaign for the show, we were instantly drawn to the iconic song that’s the namesake for the series,” Laura Kane, Paramount Network creative director, told TheWrap. “We saw an opportunity to connect the 70s, which in many ways was the second-wave of feminism, with the female empowerment movement of today by reclaiming the song with a strong and powerful female voice. Kelly Clarkson was our first choice and we couldn’t be prouder.”
Clarkson will take the stage at the CMT Music Awards on Paramount’s sister network on Wednesday, performing the song live for the first time, which CMT music and talent exec Leslie Fram says aims to “send an empowering message” to a male-dominated industry.
“American Woman” premieres Thursday at 10/9c on Paramount Network.
2018 Emmy Contender Portraits, From Maggie Gyllenhaal to Antonio Banderas (Photos)
To celebrate a remarkable TV season, TheWrap assembled many of its biggest, brightest and most Emmy-worthy stars and creators.
Actress Krysten Ritter, "Jessica Jones"
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Actress Krysten Ritter, "Jessica Jones"
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Actress Laura Linney, "Ozark"
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Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, "The Deuce"
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Actress Christine Baranski, "The Good Fight"
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Megan Mullally, "Will and Grace"
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Thandie Newton, "Westworld"
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Actress Betty Gilpin, "GLOW"
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Actress Samira Wiley, "Handmaid's Tale" and "Orange Is the New Black"
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Actress D'Arcy Carden, "The Good Place"
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Actress Alex Borstein, "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"
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Actress Sara Gilbert, "Roseanne"
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Actress Elizabeth Marvel, "Homeland"
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Édgar Ramírez, Judith Light and Darren Criss, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace"
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Actress Judith Light, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace"
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Actor Darren Criss, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace"
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Actor Édgar Ramírez, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace"
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Actor Antonio Banderas, "Genius: Picasso"
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Actor-singer-producer John Legend, "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert"
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Actor Kyle MacLachlan, "Twin Peaks"
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Actress Cristin Milioti, "Black Mirror: USS Callister"
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Actress Janet McTeer, "Jessica Jones"
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Actor Omari Hardwick, "Power"
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Actor Ted Danson, "The Good Place"
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Actress-writers Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, "Broad City"
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Actress Aubrey Plaza, "Legion"
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Actor Ron Livingston, "Loudermilk"
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Some of this season’s top TV performers and creators pose for TheWrap
To celebrate a remarkable TV season, TheWrap assembled many of its biggest, brightest and most Emmy-worthy stars and creators.
