Kelly Clarkson recently shared a fun behind-the-scenes story about her songwriting process. During a video on The Kelly Clarkson Show’s YouTube channel, she revealed which song from her 23-year career took her the least amount of time to write.
The answer might surprise you — it’s her hit Christmas song, “Underneath the Tree.”
Kelly Clarkson’s Quick Songwriting Moment
On June 12, Kelly Clarkson answered a fan’s question during her “Ask Kelly Anything” video. The fan wanted to know which of her many hits took her the fastest to write, and Kelly’s answer was clear: “Underneath the Tree.”
She explained, “It was a Christmas song. It was ‘Underneath the Tree.’ I was working with Greg Kurstin in the studio.”
Kelly continued, “I ordered sushi and when it arrived, I had written it.” She added that she’s able to write Christmas songs quickly because they feel joyful and cheerful.
“You don’t have to worry about being cool,” she said, laughing. “Honestly, that’s not a concern for me, because I’m not trying to be cool.”
The Success of “Underneath the Tree”
“Underneath the Tree,” released in 2013, became a huge hit for Kelly Clarkson. The song peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Kelly explained that Greg Kurstin, the producer she worked with, gave her a basic piano melody. The song was developed into the final “wall of sound” for Christmas. Clarkson described it as “a really cool sound” that felt nostalgic and perfect for the holiday season.
A Quick Song, but Not Always the Case
Although “Underneath the Tree” came together quickly, Kelly admitted that most of her songs don’t come to her that fast. She said, “Usually it takes forever.”
But when it comes to Christmas music, she finds it easier to write because it’s fun, and there’s a sense of freedom with the theme.
Kelly Clarkson’s hit “Underneath the Tree” was the fastest song she ever wrote, taking her only as long as it took for her sushi to arrive.
While the song was a quick creation, Kelly reminded fans that most of her songs take much longer to come together. Still, the Christmas classic continues to be a fan favorite and a huge part of her successful career.
