Kelly Clarkson Sings Powerful Cover Of The Judds’ “Have Mercy”

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YouTube/The Kelly Clarkson Show

Kelly Clarkson impressed fans once again with her performance of a classic country hit during her “Kellyoke” segment.

On a recent episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Clarkson showed off her undeniable talent by singing The Judds’ timeless hit, “Have Mercy,” alongside her band, My Band Y’all.

“Have Mercy,” originally written by Paul Kennerley and recorded by The Judds, became one of the mother-daughter duo’s most beloved songs when it debuted in September 1985 as the lead single from their album Rockin’ with the Rhythm. The track quickly climbed the country charts, becoming their fifth number one hit. It held the top spot for two weeks and remained on the charts for fourteen weeks, solidifying its status as a country classic. Today, “Have Mercy” still holds a prominent position, ranking 26th on Billboard’s Top Country Songs of All Time list.

Kelly Clarkson truly shines with her love for country music, which she often shares during her daytime talk show’s “Kellyoke” segment. Every “Kellyoke” moment is a treat, as Clarkson takes a song— sometimes picked in honor of a guest appearing on the show— and infuses it with her own special flair. Her cover of “Have Mercy” is a perfect example, where she once again blew the audience away with her unique twist on a fan-favorite track, all while showcasing her stellar vocals.

Last week, on June 7th, The Kelly Clarkson Show won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series, marking the fourth consecutive year that the show has received this prestigious award. During her acceptance speech, Clarkson expressed gratitude to NBC for their support in relocating her show after its fourth season.

“It’s important to say that not everybody really thinks about what’s going on behind the scenes,” she said on stage. “The fact that NBC, a huge company, took time and listened when I said, ‘Hey, my life is not going super great. I don’t know if I can live here anymore. I don’t know if I can do this.'”

“They really wrapped their arms around us, and they helped us move … The move has been so great, not just for me and my family, but our whole show,” she continued. “It takes a lot of time and money and effort to do that — it is not unnoticed. I just want to say ‘Thank You’ for thinking of mental health as a product.”

Watch Kelly Clarkson perform The Judds’ hit “Have Mercy” in the video below.

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About the Author

Megan Grisham

Hi, I'm Megan, a Nashville, TN native born and raised. I started my writing career in the entertainment industry, and living in the heart of Music City has given me an incredible chance to contribute to the world of country music. Today, I have found myself working alongside some of the biggest names in the…

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