Kelly Clarkson Sleighs ‘This Christmas’ by Donny Hathaway

kelly-clarkson-This-Christmas-Donny-Hathaway - Credit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
kelly-clarkson-This-Christmas-Donny-Hathaway - Credit: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Kelly Clarkson followed up her performance of Cher’s “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” with a cover of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” on her talk show’s “Kellyoke” segment Wednesday.

Hathaway, who Rolling Stone named one of the greatest singers of all time, released the track in 1970. While the song initially gained little success, it has since hit numerous Billboard charts and cemented itself as one of the most beloved holiday hits.

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“Hang all the mistletoe/I’m gonna get to know you better/This Christmas and as we trim the tree/How much fun it’s gonna be together,” Clarkson effortlessly sings in the opening verse. Later in the tune, she belts out: “And this Christmas will be, a very special Christmas, for me.”

On Tuesday, Clarkson took on the neo-disco track, “DJ Play a Christmas Song,” and ended the segment by falling to her knees and exclaiming, “I love this song!”

Her performance earned the approval of Cher herself, who raved on social media Tuesday night after the segment. “KELLY,,,,U ACED IT?? U GOT THE GIRL.VERSION OF MY VOICE,” she wrote. “BABE,I AM OUT OF MY MIND OVER UR VERSION.. THE MODULATION GAVE ME …I DONT KNOW, I JUST LOST MY MIND?? SISTER U GOT IT.”

Last week, Cher stopped by The Kelly Clarkson Show and criticized the the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame after noting that she’s only the second artist to have No. 1 songs in seven decades after the Rolling Stones.

“It took four of them to be one of me,” Cher pointed out as the host clapped. “And I’m not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!” The legend added, “You know what, I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars … I’m never going to change my mind. They can just go you-know-what themselves.”

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