By: koalafriend

Kelly Clarkson’s Iconic 2019 Tweet to Taylor Swift Was Inspired by a Country Legend — And We’re Shook

Pop queens supporting pop queens? We’re here for it!

Back in August 2019, Kelly Clarkson set the internet ablaze when she tweeted a suggestion to Taylor Swift that quickly went viral — and ended up playing a major role in one of the most buzzed-about music ownership battles in recent history.

And now, years later, fans are finally learning the country music legend who inspired Clarkson’s bold move. Spoiler alert: it's a name that helped shape the genre and gave us some of the most iconic female anthems of all time.

Yes, Kelly’s empowering message to Taylor Swift was actually inspired by none other than the country queen herself — Reba McEntire.

Let’s rewind and unpack the tweet that shook Swifties and the industry to the core.

The Tweet That Changed Everything
In the summer of 2019, the music world collectively gasped when news broke that Taylor Swift’s former label, Big Machine Records, was sold — taking her master recordings along with it — to Scooter Braun. The move sparked a firestorm online, as Taylor publicly voiced her disappointment and feelings of betrayal.

While fans and celebs rallied behind her, Kelly Clarkson stepped in with an idea that was pure genius — and it lived on Twitter for the world to see.

“Just a thought, U should go in & re-record all the songs that U don’t own the masters on exactly how U did them,” Clarkson tweeted on July 13, 2019. “But put brand new art & some kind of incentive so fans will no longer buy the old versions. I’d buy all of the new versions just to prove a point.”

Mic. Drop.

Taylor would go on to do exactly that, launching her career-defining Taylor’s Version re-recording project, which includes Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version), Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Fans, critics, and even music execs labeled the move as revolutionary. But who gave Kelly the inspiration to speak up in the first place?

Enter: Reba.

Reba’s Influence Behind the Scenes
In a revealing interview with Variety, Clarkson opened up about her now-legendary tweet and admitted that it was her former stepmother-in-law, Reba McEntire, who gave her the idea years earlier — and it stuck with her.

“She told me this story once about how she had rerecorded a series of songs after a disagreement with her label so she could have control of her masters,” Clarkson told the magazine. “That always stayed in my mind.”

Reba, a powerhouse in both the country and entertainment worlds, has never been one to back down from a challenge — and clearly, that courage rubbed off on Clarkson.

The Voice coach and American Idol alum has long been a champion of artist rights, speaking candidly about her own struggles in the music industry. And as someone who has navigated the pop and country music worlds, it totally tracks that Reba's fearless business mindset would inspire Kelly to uplift another artist — especially one like Taylor Swift, who began her career in country before globally dominating the pop scene.

A Legendary Chain Reaction
It’s wild to think — without Reba McEntire’s sage advice, Kelly might’ve never fired off that tweet. Without that tweet, maybe Taylor wouldn’t have started on her Taylor’s Version journey that’s now redefining what artist empowerment looks like in the music industry.

Talk about the butterfly effect.

Fans were quick to praise both Kelly and Reba when Variety’s interview dropped, creating a chain of supportive posts on X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. Call it the ultimate icon supporting icons moment, and we are so here for it.

“Reba walked so Taylor could run,” one fan tweeted, while another joked, “Kelly Clarkson really whispered wisdom from the country throne.”

The Legacy Lives On
Now firmly cemented as a defining moment in 21st-century pop culture, Kelly’s 2019 tweet didn’t just offer support — it helped spark a movement around artist ownership, re-recording rights, and female solidarity in the music biz.

It’s clear that Reba McEntire’s industry power moves of yesteryear helped inspire one of today's most impactful music campaigns — and thanks to Kelly Clarkson’s platform and quick thumbs, that advice made its way into the hands of one Taylor Swift.

So whether you stan Taylor, ride for Reba, or are forever team Kelly, there’s no denying this: women looking out for each other in the entertainment world isn’t just powerful — it’s iconic.

And now we know, the tweet heard ’round the world had its roots in country royalty.

Y’all better believe — legends inspire legends.

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Written by: koalafriend
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