Kelly Clarkson rocks out for Lucky magazine's first-ever music issue.
Ten years after being named the first-ever "American Idol," Clarkson's career is still white hot: earlier this year , her empowerment anthem "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" became a ubiquitous radio smash and her third #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, she is in the midst of a massive world tour and can currently be seen on ABC's hit singing competition "Duets."
Clarkson opened up to Lucky about her new boyfriend, turning 30 and her low-maintenance style. While the issue doesn't hit newsstands until August 7, you can get a preview of Clarkson's interview and a first look at her photo shoot and cover below.
Ben Watts/Lucky Magazine
How she celebrate her recent 30th birthday?
I just had my 30th birthday and we went turkey shooting. It's what I wanted to do, so we went.
On being a pop star:
People act like there's this one set of rules to follow to be a pop star, and I think, Well, you say I'm a pop star, so maybe that's not true. … Even though I'm a pop singer, I really have more the life of a country singer.
Check out the cover, after the jump.
Ben Watts/Lucky Magazine
On those pesky gay rumors:
Oh, there's all these rumors that I'm a lesbian. I have a boyfriend now, Brandon Blackstock, my manager Narvel's son, Reba McEntire's stepson.
On her relationship with Reba:
I mean, I love her, but her stepson is my boyfriend.
Note: Reba and Kelly co-headlined the "2 Worlds 2 Voices" tour together in 2008. Here they are (awesomely!) performing Reba's classic "Fancy" together:
But she still isn't one of those girls who takes forever to get dressed:
I put on the Hank Williams and the Patsy Cline and the Rosemary Clooney on vinyl—I'm not trying to be some cool indie-rock person, I just love the way it sounds—and throw on a T-shirt and jeans. In Texas, we practically come out of the womb in jeans.
On her low maintenance style:
I just blow-dry my hair and put on mascara and lip gloss, and I'm ready to go. I really don't get long nails. They're so Edward Scissorhands.