Kelly Clarkson: `Album was inspired by fight for career control`

The former American Idol winner said that she has had to stand firm over the years in an effort to have a hand in her own career.

Talking to the Daily Star, Kelly, 29, explained, “I think that’s why we kind of went with the whole Stronger theme because it’s the first time everybody working around me and at the record company really agreed and worked together really well.

“More people are comfortable and know me better and I know them better.

“It feels good. I feel the thing I’m most proud of is that I’ve always done what I wanted and that’s been really hard in the past.

“I’ve had to earn their trust and now I’m saying, ‘I’ve written you a lot of number ones, OK, I’m not just a one-hit wonder here’.

“The whole album is very empowering. I guess personally I kind of feel more like that because now it’s my fifth record, I’m 10 years in, I know myself a little better, I feel a little stronger.”

And she had nothing but praise for some of her fellow ladies of pop.

“iTunes recommended I listen to Ellie Goulding so I’ve only recently got into her album Lights, it’s ridiculous. I think it’s so cool and different sounding,” she said. “I’ve liked chicks with bands since I was a kid. Like Gwen Stefani with No Doubt or The Pretenders.”