In my Monday post of randomness, I mentioned that I should start profiling some of my Twitter followers because there are some interesting people to choose from. This is the first of those profiles.
Kelly Clinger is a singer and we’ve known that we shared some things in common for a little while (had our first child at 20, our husbands adopted them, had another child, admiration of JT) but I wanted to get to know her a little better. This interview was conducted via IM the night before she heads out on a radio tour to promote a single from her album.
(This transcript has been edited for readability.)
Shannon Albert: We’ve known we had some things in common for a while and always said we should chat sometime so here we are. Do you know how we ended up meeting on Twitter?
Kelly Clinger: i think it was something about Justin Timberlake
S: Maybe when he and I were Tweeting each other last summer? I have some followers from that time.
K: probably…i think it intrigued me that you were a fan of his and you were my age! HA!
S: I’ll be asking a thing or two about him. In case my Twitter background and blog header don’t give it away, I’m sorta infatuated.
K: cool
K ask away!
Ricky Luna headshot from "The Mickey Mouse Club" days
S: Ok, so you started out as an extra on the Mickey Mouse Club where you got to know people like Britney and Justin and Christina. You were 18 when they were about 12 and 13, and eventually you realized that you maybe could make a career singing. How did you originally end up on the Mickey Mouse Club?
K: well…i started going just to be in the audience
K: i had a crush on a mousketeer actually
K: Ricky Luna
K: haha
K: and then I was there so much, I became an extra
K: got paid to stand around
S: Did you sing or just stand around?
K: acted
K: no singing
K: they sang
S: Ok. Hmm, that’s interesting. I guess that’s the Mouseketeer’s job.
K: yeah i didn’t have mouse ears or a cool jacket with my name on it
S: Did you know back then that those kids would eventually be really famous or were there others that you thought might make it big that didn’t? Like Ricky. Should he have been a pop star?
K: actually Ricky sings Latin music
K: not sure how famous he is though
K: but yes, it was obvious that there was some inbelievable talent on that show
K: I remember the first time i heard Christina sing
K: it was “Love Can Move Mountains” by Celine Dion
K: Christina couldn’t have weighed more than 80 lbs soaking wet
K: and I was like HOLY CRAP
S: I bet she still doesn’t.
K: haha
Kelly with Justin laying down, JC sitting behind her and Lance in front of her. Black bars on their eyes were on the pic already. I didn't do it.
K: yeah really!
K: at first i thought she was lip syncing to someone else
K: i got to be friends with the guys though
K: more than the girls
K: JC Chasez and I were prob friends first
S: But not so much the JT/Britney/Christina group I assume? They were too young to be friends with I assume?
K: yeah they had their parents with them
K: and the older ones didn’t
S: You’ve said before that that you think that teens w/lots of fame and money where everybody is a Yes Man is so harmful to them because there’s no boundaries. Based on what the public knows about Britney and Justin and Christina, they all seemed to have handled it differently. Do you have any thoughts on why that might be?
K: hmmm
K: i have some observations
K: Justin has a mother who has never had a problem telling him what’s up
K: he is very respectful and loves his family
K: Britney’s family was different
K: not many boundaries
K: and Christina was estranged from her dad for a long time
K: maybe still is
K: i find the whole dad thing to be vital
K: i’m around students A LOT
K: and you can almost pick which ones are missing the dad
K: SO sad…
K: anyway…
S: After being an extra on the Mickey Mouse Club, what was your next gig and how did you transition from acting to singing?
K: well i’ve always been a singer
K: started when i was 4
S: Well, professionally.
K: i started singing professionally when i was 15
S: Where were you singing at 15?
K: did some singing in Nashville
K: Christian music
K: but didn’t really make a business out of it until I started working for Britney
K: that was in 1999
K: transition went this way…
K: graduated from Dr Phillips High School in Orlando in 1994
K: went to Full Sail Real World Education for college
K: got pregnant
K: got divorced
K: he was a sound man for Transcontinental Records and Johnny Wright
K: I sang demos here and there
K: try outs came for Britney’s tour right before “Baby One more time” came out
K: i auditioned and got the job
K: she didn’t even remember me from MMC
K: Chris (my first husband) was also a recording engineer….JC and I stayed in touch when MMC was cancelled
K: JC called when they decided to put N Sync together to see if Chris would record their demo
K: I have early demos of JC and Justin at my house writing songs
K: Justin sang in my wedding when I married Chris
S: I knew that but was restraining myself from asking.
K: lol
S: but OMGosh.
K: But…insert awkwardness here…I had such a massive crush on Justin
K: it actually affected my marriage
K: I went to HS with Joey
K: So we were all friends
S: What did you have him sing?
K: Justin sang “Never Felt This Way” by Brian McKnight
S: While on tour with Britney, you were living a lifestyle that involved a lot of drug use. Is that common for crews that tour or was that something unique to you?
K: very common
K: depending on the tour
K: but drinking and partying is really common
K: sleeping all day…up all night
S: I assume addiction to drugs is just one of the things you’ve struggled with. What other issues are part of your story?
K: alcohol
K: i was raped while on tour
K: prob wouldn’t have happened without the massive amounts of alcohol we all consumed
S: Was the rape by someone who was on tour with you?
K: yes
S: Did he get prosecuted?
K: it took many years for me to tell anyone
K: i was scared my dad would kill him
K: i was also very promiscuous
K: i had such a huge hole in me
S: so you didn’t think people would believe you?
K: i think that was part of it
S: Your mom ended up coming to get you while you were on tour and took you home, encouraging you to make changes in your life. Did you ever tour or sing backup after that?
K: i never toured again
K: but i kept singing
K: i started singing more demos…worked for an entertainment company in St Petersburg, FL as their vocal coach and studio singer
S: In 2002 or so, you’ve said that you and your husband became saved Christians. I understand that the impact of that has really helped you focus your life and find your purpose. Did your big issues like drugs and alcohol mostly disappear then or has it been more of a work in progress?
K: oh gosh i wish healing happened instantly!
K: it’s so tough
K: actually the addictions weren’t the hardest part though
K: the hardest part was how much i hated myself
K: and looking the mirror and really seeing that i was a mess
S: Was that the root of all that was going wrong in your life you think?
S: Self-hate lead to promiscuity, drug use, etc.
K: well the self-hatred and shame came from so many places
K: my mom wasn’t and still isn’t very involved in my life or my kids lives
K: my dad is a workaholic
K: i pretty much raised myself
K: i blamed them not being in my life on myself
K: something had to be wrong with ME
K: so i pulled at every straw i could to get them to notice me
S: Right. I think a lot of kids do that. Are they still married?
K: yes they are still married
K: my dad realizes now what he did
K: my mom doesn’t
K: she was diagnosed with multiple slcerosis a few years ago
K: those things combined make it hard for her to function
S: I bet that is very stressful for your dad as well. That’s tough.
K: it really is
K: he wants her whole
K: and well
K: but she has to want that too
S: Right. You can’t rescue them.
S: True of anybody really.
K: yes
K: and can be really frustrating!
S: I did some research and saw where you once wrote “I love to push the envelope and do things out of the box. I think that’s how Jesus would do it. That’s why the religious people couldn’t stand him…they don’t like me much either!” Can you explain that?
K: haha…wow…
K: well…i’m one of those people who loves Jesus with all of my heart but hates religion and what the “church” has made us look
K: like
S: Can I tell you how happy I am to hear that?
K: and I’m not one to stay quiet about it
S: I feel the same but I end up not going to church because of that.
K: been there too…and I sing Christian music!
K: so much to say here….
K: i keep typing things then erasing!
K: haha
K: i believe that what we’ve confined to four walls really isn’t church at all
K: I believe that church is something you DO. You love and support widows and orphans and homeless people.
K: You love homosexual people
K: You show people that you are Christian by what you DO
K: not by what you say or how big your church building is
K: example….
K: my husband was a youth pastor with a porn addiction
K: we talk about it a lot now because no one else does
K: he was told to go “get healing”
K: and not talk about it
K: it led to an affair
K: with my best friend
K: 
S: Ok, deep breath on THAT one.
K: so I can tell you…
K: that God is REAL
K: and peace and love and grace are REAL
S: So you’re more interested in talking and seeing God work than keeping up a facade of perfection
K: I’m more interested in showing people my desperate NEED for a Savior
K: because we all need that
K: and that means airing my junk
S: From what I understand, you’re involved with charismatic churches. What are charismatic churches?
K: i don’t even know if that’s the right word
K: to me, it’s a place where i can feel life
K: so many churches are dead and dry
K: but God’s not dead
K: He’s alive
K: so why are his followers so boring and stoic?
K: as if God himself didn’t create fun??
S: I always say “my God has a sense of humor.”
S: Is there a certain denomination that you feel connected with the most?
K: i sort of hate the idea of denominations
K: Jesus longed for unity in the body
K: but i can’t seem to find that anywhere
K: i find a lot of big egos
K: and bright lights
K: and very little dying daily
S: So when you travel around to different churches to sing and tell your story, do you have a specific demographic in mind that you’re trying to reach? Teens, girls, etc.?
K: nah
K: anybody who will listen
K: just when i think “that’s song is really for women” some guy will come up crying
S: You’re a Christian singer but I assume you also like mainstream music. Who do you like right now?
K: Imogen Heap
K: John Mayer
K: Coldplay
K: Adele
K: Mutemath
K: anything that sounds different
K: i would love for Christian music to be creative
K: oh and right now all my kids want to listen to is Michael Jackson…haha
S: MJ was the best.
S: Your daughter is a teenager now. How much do you tell her about your past?
K: she knows a lot about it…there are a few things i’ve left out until she’s a little older
K: like the rape
K: and the affair
S: what about your childhood? do you share the difficulties w/your parents w/her?
K: a little…i don’t want her to have bad ideas about her grandparents though…although she is very observant and has figured many things out on her own!
S: that’s where i am currently at.
S: daughter turning 15 in a couple of weeks. she’s figuring stuff out.
K: oh it’s such a fine line
K: i’m not sure anyone ever has it figured out
S: I also want her to know me, my story, my viewpoint but don’t want to bash other people in the process. Not sure what the right answer is.
S: Anyway.
K: cause firstborn children are guinea pigs
K: try it out and see if they end up serial killers
K: haha
S: last year, you released your first album and you’ve mentioned that you’re going to have a blog soon. So what other future plans do you have? I saw you tease Kelly Clarkson on Twitter about touring as KC squared. Would touring again interest you?
K: yes…working on a blog with my husband where we tell our story together
K: we want to help married couples who are dealing with pornography and/or infidelity
S: a lot of people assume infidelity means the end but it doesn’t have to. very important service you are providing.
K: exactly
K: i start a radio station tour tomorrow
K: i have a single that we’re trying to get on Christian radio
K: but Christian radio…now there’s a topic…haha
S: which one?
K: “What You See In Me”
S: Ha. Very political, is it?
K: getting big stations to play a new artist is pretty much impossible…especially when you are pretty much an independent artist like i am
K: i would love to travel singing more
K: but getting yourself out there is tough
S: So are you focused on your own music now or would you consider doing backup at some point as well?
S: doing it again, that is
K: there are a few Christian artists who i’d love to sing back up for…but i can’t see myself NOT songwriting
K: it’s my heart
S: so do you write songs for other artists then?
K: not yet
K:
K: but that’s something i’d love to do
S: The next Diane Warren?
K: well that would be grand!
S: Well, i think you’ve answered the questions that I had for you. you’ve had an interesting life so far. Hopefully the next 32 or 33 years won’t be so tumultuous?
K: oh i don’t doubt that turmoil is a part of my life
K: i’m ok with that
S: you think it’s just part of everyone’s life or yours in particular?
K: if you get to the valley and there’s no one there to help you…
K: who will encourage you?
K: who will love you when you’re unlovable?
K: i believe that’s what God has put in me
S: that’s such an interesting perspective.
S: i think i love that.
K: really?
S: yeah. not many people – especially people who would identify themselves as religious – are willing to get in the trenches i don’t think.
K: i think there are some people who do what i do that get awards and acolades and millions of dollars…but i think i’m ok with being a warm blanket to someone in despair
K: and how can i relate to your despair if i’ve never been there?
S: that makes it all the despair seem useful.
K: right
K: if you can make your pain your purpose
K: it makes it worth it
K: the pain makes you closer to God
S: very nice. that will stay w/me for a while.
S: one of my goals for 2010 was to get to know twitter friends outside the 140 characters and this has been fantastic, ms. clinger.
K: thanks so much!
S: thanks for spending the last hour chatting w/me.
K: it went by fast!
S: good luck on your radio tour.
K: thanks
K: goodnight
Kelly’s album is called In Your Delay and it is available via CDBaby, iTunes or her website.