Kelly Clarkson’s Musical Director Reveals Which of Her (Incredibly Popular) Songs Is His Least Favorite

Kelly Clarkson can make a wish, take a chance and make a change, but one of her most beloved hits will still be her musical director’s least favorite.

On an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show guest-hosted by Andy Cohen on Monday (April 21), Jason Halbert — who oversees all things music on the talk show, including the host’s live Kellyoke cover series — got candid when the Watch What Happens Live TV personality cheekily challenged his loyalty. “While I’m here, this is my studio, kind of, maybe, for an hour,” Cohen began.

“So Jason, I’ll give you $20 if you tell me your least favorite Kelly Clarkson song,” he continued as audience members gasped.

After a little bit of hemming and hawing, Halbert confessed. “Unpopular opinion: ‘Breakaway,’” he said, hiding his face behind his hands.

Unpopular opinion indeed. Released two decades ago, the track remains one of Clarkson’s biggest hits to date, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also ranked No. 39 on Billboard‘s Best Songs of 2004 staff list.

In addition to the countless times she’s performed it live over the years, the “Stronger” vocalist also sang “Breakaway” with guest Sam Smith on an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show a few years ago — featuring Halbert on keys. Clarkson and her band have been putting on live performances like that for audiences ever since her talk show kicked off in 2019, but one of them sticks out to Halbert as the hardest to learn: “For me, it was the Mister Rogers theme song,” he told Cohen on the Monday episode.

Watch Halbert share his hot take above.