Kelly Clarkson Apologizes to Clive Davis

Kelly Clarkson | Beckhams Party

Kelly Clarkson Apologizes to Clive Davis

Kelly Clarkson is setting the record straight about her record — and her career.

In a posting just added to the front page of her Web site, Clarkson takes great pains to apologize to BMG North America chairman Clive Davis for comments she made about him regarding her struggling album, “My December.”

Click here to read the posting.

Clarkson says: “A lot has been made in the press about my relationship with Clive. Much of this has been blown way out of proportion and taken out of context.”

Davis, she says, "is one of the great record men of all time. He has been a key advisor and has been an important force in my success to date. He has also given me respect by releasing my new album when he was not obligated to do so. I really regret how this has turned out and I apologize to those whom I have done disservice.”

The statement also emphasizes that she wants “my band, my advisors, those close to me and my record label to be one big, tightly knit family. Like any family we will disagree and argue sometimes but, in the end, it's respect and admiration that will keep us together.”

It’s no surprise that Clarkson is in a quick retrenchment mode. “My December” sold about 41,000 copies in the last week, bringing the total to just about half a million. That’s a disaster when compared to Clarkson’s last CD, “Breakaway,” which sold millions and launched several hits including the blockbuster “Since You’ve Been Gone.” Clarkson’s single from “My December” has still logged an impressive 875,000 downloads.

But “My December” is not a singles-oriented album, so it’s not getting much airplay. On top of that, Clarkson was forced to fire her manager, Jeff Kwatinetz, of the Firm, replace him with country superstar Reba McIntyre’s husband and cancel her planned tour. Considering the time and money that are supposed to go into putting together an album release (marketing, etc.) these days, these results are catastrophic.

This column thought that Clarkson could perhaps add some more radio-friendly tracks and re-release “My December” in the fall. But insiders at RCA Records, her label, say that’s unlikely. “My December” is going to run its course, I’m told, and then fade into record business history as an interesting mistake.

Beckhams Party to Mixed Results

Clients of CAA — Creative Artists Agency — and PR firm Rogers & Cowan, not to mention a flotilla of Scientologists said to number at least 100, turned out to welcome soccer star David Beckham and his wife, Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, on Sunday night in Los Angeles.

Among those not invited: a lot of CAA agents, as well as people associated with the Museum of Contemporary Art, Geffen division, which was rented out for the event.

There were, of course, some top stars: Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, Demi Moore with a former husband (Bruce Willis) and current one (Ashton Kutcher). But there were also a lot of middling, “Access Hollywood”/Us Weekly types like Eva Longoria, singer Rihanna and actress Jenny McCarthy.

Interestingly, co-hosts Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith pulled in the most interesting crowd of black Hollywood celebs including Stevie Wonder, Forest Whitaker, rapper Common, Serena Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Kerry Washington, Nick Cannon, Tyrese and "Lost"/"Oz" star Harold Perrineau.

There were also two guests with current or former legal problems: the recently incarcerated rapper Lil’ Kim and Wesley Snipes.

Brooke Shields, who once feuded publicly with Tom Cruise but has since been persuaded to be his new best friend, came with producer husband Chris Henchy. Shields’ about-face with Cruise is one of the more stunning plot twists in Hollywood history.

Only one avowed star Scientologist made it to the red carpet, actress Catherine Bell of the “Army Wives” soap opera on Lifetime.

No, it wasn’t quite the Vanity Fair Oscar party, and, as guest lists go, it was slanted more toward photo ops than substance. But for the Beckhams, it could only be termed a success as their daily planned campaign to become Hollywood celebrities continues unabated.

Still unclear, however, is who paid for the million-dollar shindig. But British press reports of 100 Scientology guests suggests that their organization may have had a bigger hand than previously thought.