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Kelly Clarkson, Clive Davis Spar Over Recollections in His Memoir

Singer cites 'memory lapses' music chief says he fact-checked

Clive Davis, Kelly Clarkson.
Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images; Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
February 20, 2013 8:30 AM ET

Kelly Clarkson's stormy relationship with Clive Davis isn't getting any smoother: the singer has accused the Sony Music creative chief of "memory lapses and misinformation" in a chapter of his new memoir that describe disagreements over songs including "Since U Been Gone" and "Because of You." Davis denies any misstatements in The Soundtrack of My Life, responding online that he fact-checked the incidents he described with "five independent individuals" who witnessed them.

Clarkson wrote on her blog that Davis describes "'hysterical sobbing' when he demanded 'Since U Been Gone' be on my album. Not true at all." She says she simply wanted more guitars and a bigger sound on a song "I couldn't be more proud of." 

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The singer does acknowledge weeping in Davis' office once. "I cried after I played him a song I had written about my life called 'Because Of You,'" Clarkson wrote. "I cried because he hated it and told me verbatim that I was a 'sh*tty writer who should be grateful for the gifts that he bestows upon me.'"

Clarkson also accuses Davis of having "completely sabotaged" her third album, 2007's My December, which has been an acrimonious subject between the two. 

Davis stands by the chapter in question, writing, "In the book, I provide an in-depth look at our years together during which we shared major multi-platinum success, as well as a few creative differences. I am truly very sorry that she has decided to take issue with what I know to be an accurate depiction of our time together."

He went on to say, "I wish, and will always wish, Kelly's talent and her career to soar to ever new heights."

Davis acknowledges in the memoir his "bisexual life," and also describes his work and interactions with artists including Whitney Houston, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

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