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Kelly Clarkson took on Miley Cyrus‘ summer hit “Used to Be Young” for Wednesday’s Kellyoke segment, delivering an impassioned rendition. The track, which reflects on the perceptions Cyrus faced as a teenager in the spotlight, released in August and followed the success of her chart-toping song “Flowers.”
Clarkson eased into the power ballad, before soaring into the chorus: “I know I used to be crazy/I know I used to be fun/You say I used to be wild/I say I used to be young.” Backed by her band, the talk show host managed to convey the track’s sense of nostalgia and vulnerability with her own tender vocals.
Following the release of “Used to Be Young,” Cyrus shared some insight on how her own experiences are echoed in the lyrics. “This song is about honoring who we’ve been, loving who we are and celebrating who we will become,” she said. “I feel proud when reflecting on my past and optimistic when thinking about the future.”
In June last year, the singer spoke toBritishVogueabout theharsh judgment she facedwhile starring onthe Disney Channel’s Hannah Montanaand throughout her early career. “I carried some guilt and shame around myself for years because of how much controversy and upset I really caused,” she said. “Now that I’m an adult, I realize how harshly I was judged… I was harshly judged as a child by adults, and now, as an adult, I realize that I would never harshly judge a child.”
