The first American Idol is speaking out about why she chose The Voice over the show that gave her her start.

A month ahead of the February 26 premiere of Season 14 of The Voice, pop icon Kelly Clarkson is sipping tea and casting shade on the former Fox singing competition in a new Life & Style interview.

“I was so young when I started [on Idol]," Clarkson shares. "I would’ve loved to have had someone who was looking out for me rather than having to make money off of me. I would’ve loved to have somebody in my corner like that — so it’s nice to be that person for someone.”

Clarkson joins NBC's Voice coaching panel alongside Alicia Keys, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton. “We started shooting, and it’s been one of the best experiences ever," Clarkson tells the mag.

American Idol - Brian Dunkleman, Kelly Clarkson and Ryan Seacrest
Kevin Winter/ImageDirect/FOX
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Adding her talent to The Voice as a mentor is a continuation of the life-affirming 2018 Clarkson has already experienced. Just a few weeks ago, she finally met Steve Carell (who gave her a hilarious shout-out in 2005's The 40-Year-Old Virgin), fangirled over Meryl Streep (to her face!), and wooed television critics at the annual TCA press tour. This all follows last year's release of her critically acclaimed eighth studio album, Meaning of Life, one of PopCrush's Best Albums of 2017.

Starring judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, ABC's reboot of American Idol premieres on March 11. Ryan Seacrest returns as host. ABC execs recently revealed the show will do away with the competition's popular bad auditions, which, of course, gave America the gift of William Hung.

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