The song marks a milestone for the pop star
Kelly Clarkson has a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving as her iconic hit, “Since U Been Gone,” has officially surpassed one billion streams on Spotify, making it the superstar’s first song to join Spotify’s Billions Club.
This 2000s cultural anthem continues to be a massive fan favorite nearly two decades after its release, securing its place in the coveted club of the world’s most-streamed tracks.
The track was written and produced by Max Martin and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald. The uptempo pop-rock, power pop served as the second single from her 2004 album, Breakaway.
It was originally written with P!nk in mind, who turned it down. It was then offered to Hilary Duff, who reportedly rejected it because she could not reach the high notes. When Clarkson received the song, she felt the demo sounded “a little poppy” and asked to add heavier guitars and harder drums to make it sound more rock-oriented, resulting in the final, “explosive” version.
Clarkson has shared that she has a “bad vibe” about the song’s origin because she was allegedly lied to by her label. She was told to fly to Sweden to work with the producers and write the lyrics, only to discover Max Martin and Dr. Luke had already written the song.
The track peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance at the 48th Grammy Awards. The music video won two MTV Video Music Awards in 2005 for Best Female Video and Best Pop Video.
Clarkson can be seen performing the track in 2026 as she continues her Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Backed by her brilliant band and longtime collaborators, Clarkson lit up the stage and brought the audience to their feet with songs that span her legendary career—from chart-toppers like “Stronger” and “Breakaway” to raw, emotional new tracks like “Mine” and “Where Have You Been.”
Clarkson recently launched the seventh season of The Kelly Clarkson Show. which has originated from New York’s Rockefeller Center for the past few years. Since its debut in 2019, The Kelly Clarkson Show has redefined the talk series, captivating audiences with a compelling mix of entertaining interviews, star-studded surprises and remarkable stories of hope and resilience, giving a national platform to heroes driving positive change in communities across America. Filmed in front of an enthusiastic live studio audience, The Kelly Clarkson Show has held the top afternoon spot for six consecutive seasons, consistently expanding its loyal fan base each year.
