Kelly Clarkson Says She Wants Compliments Over Dramatic Weight Loss

Kelly Clarkson opened up about how she loves it when people compliment her weight loss and would be thrilled to get more praise about it, especially at work on her daytime talk show.

The comments came after an audience member pointed out Kelly’s “sexy” appearance during her performance at Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 10, per People. The “Stronger” singer, 43, was thrilled with the compliment about her new figure and lamented how no one can say anything to her on the set of The Kelly Clarkson Show because of human resources rules.

“Every time I go to an HR meeting, I’m like, ‘How have I not been fired?’” Kelly explained. “I grew up on the road at 19 years old, you know what I’m saying? I’m like, ‘Oh, that is inappropriate. I would never.’”

“But they also say you’re not allowed to say someone looks attractive, and I say f–k that,” Kelly candidly continued. “Because some of those bitches are out here working, and we’re trying, and I want every motherf–ker that passes me to go, ‘Damn. Well done,’” referring to her incredible weight loss.

The Grammy winner said she nearly got “in a fight” with an HR representative about the subject. “They were like, ‘Well, it might make people feel bad that they looked bad before.’ I was fat before, so I’m saying I want you to say, ‘Damn,’” Kelly proudly proclaimed.

The Texas native added that there’s “nothing wrong” with anyone’s bodies and that she still “felt very confident” when she weighed more. “I felt fine both ways, but I’m just saying it’s a lot more fun with clothes now. And I’ve been working on it,” Kelly explained.

The “Love So Soft” songstress thanked the fan for calling her sexy and assured them she “will not be calling HR” about the compliment. “It is not a joke. I know HR is not a joke, but it is really funny some of the things they talk about, and we’re like, ‘Oh no. We would never,’” she added.

The show marked Kelly’s return to performing a full concert for the first time in six months. She hasn’t gone on tour since 2019, the same year her self-titled daytime talk show launched.

“We love the talk show, but we usually don’t get to do shows because of the schedule, so thank you so much,” Kelly told the Atlantic City audience. “It’s cool. It’s only like two hours away from home in New York City.”

The “Since U Been Gone” singer famously lost 60 pounds, initially crediting it to a combination of a healthier diet and walking around New York City after relocating her show from Los Angeles starting in season 5.

“Walking in the city is quite the workout,” Kelly told People in January 2024, without going into greater detail about her fitness routine.

“I eat a healthy mix,” she told the publication about her diet. “I dropped weight because I’ve been listening to my doctor — a couple (of) years I didn’t. And 90 percent of the time I’m really good at it because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I’m a Texas girl, so I like meat — sorry, vegetarians in the world!”

However, Kelly admitted to using a weight loss medication in May 2024 during a conversation with guest Whoopi Goldberg on her talk show. The View host has been open about taking Mounjaro for weight loss, and Kelly said she turned to using medication after “my blood work got so bad.”

“My doctor chased me for like two years, and I was like, ‘No I’m afraid of it, I already have thyroid problems,’” she explained at the time.

“Everyone thinks it’s Ozempic — it’s not. It’s something else,” Kelly told Whoopi. “But it’s something that aids in helping break down the sugar. Obviously my body doesn’t do it right.”