Kelly Clarkson: 'I felt bullied by Clive Davis and his record label executives'

Kelly Clarkson has blasted her former record label boss Clive Davis and his fellow executives, explaining they told her to "shut up and sing" when she voiced her opinion.

Davis, the man behind the careers of Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston, famously fell out with the American Idol winner back in 2004 after they clashed on her song choices and career goals.

And now in a new Variety interview, Kelly has recalled a particularly difficult meeting she had with RCA Records bosses over her decision to release Because of You as a single.

"I was told that was a (bad) song because it didn't rhyme," Clarkson says. "A group of men thought it was OK to sit around a young woman and bully her. I was told I should shut up and sing."

Clarkson and Davis agreed to go their separate ways after her third album, My December, flopped.

In his 2013 memoir, Davis admitted he didn't think Clarkson was a bona-fide songwriter.

Attacking the music mogul online after the book was released, Kelly wrote: "I refuse to be bullied... Growing up is awesome because you learn you don't have to cower to anyone - even Clive Davis."

She tells Variety there was a time she was excited to work with the revered music legend, adding, "It’s like meeting someone you’ve idolised since you were a kid and being let down."