Photo: Getty Images, NBC
Kelly Clarkson covered of one of Jo Dee Messina’s 90s hits (which was first released by another artist decades earlier), and she received a response from the country icon herself.
Clarkson performed “A Lesson In Leavin,’ written by Randy Goodrum and Brent Maher, and originally recorded by late legend Dottie West in the late 70s. The trailblazer became the first female artist to win the Grammy Award in the Best Country & Western Vocal Performance category in 1965, and score other major successes. West was known for solo hits, duets and her songwriting throughout her career. She died on September 4, 1991, following complications from injuries she sustained in a car accident. She was 58.
“That song is ‘Lesson in Leavin,’ originally recorded by Dottie West in the late 70s, which I found out this morning because my whole life I thought it was just (an) original song from Jo Dee Messina, who I grew up listening to,” Clarkson shared after her Kellyoke performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Monday (March 16). “That song marked a historic week… Not only did Dottie’s song land in the top spot, it was the first time ever all top five positions were held by five female singers. That’s something great to note during this Women’s History Month.”
Messina released her version of “Lesson In Leavin’ in 1999. It was one of the singles from her I’m Alright record, which also included the title track, “Stand Beside Me,” “Bye Bye” and more. Most recently, Messina released her newest single, “Some Bridges,” on Friday (March 13). It’s the first track to arrive from the singer-songwriter’s upcoming studio album — her first in a decade — this summer. She said in a recent interview with iHeartCountry that this chapter is “covering a whole lot.” It covers love, life, pain, fight, learning and living. “When they [fans] listen to the album, I hope they feel seen, first of all, and not alone in this life because everybody hurts and everybody celebrates,” Messina said. “(There are) tons of topics on the record. I hope they feel hopeful and seen and understood.”
“Love this so much, [Kelly Clarkson]!” Messina wrote as she shared a clip of the performance on her Instagram story. Watch it here: