It looks like someone has been hitting the gym!

We spotted Kelly Clarkson grabbing lunch with a female friend at Sur in West Hollywood yesterday, and we almost didn't recognize the "Stronger" singer... she's lost so much weight!

Maybe it's because the American Idol alum is happy in love with her boyfriend? The 30-year-old brunette beauty has been dating Nashville-based talent manager Brandon Blackstock, who happens to be the stepson of country star Reba McEntire, since last year. Romance is better than Ben & Jerrys any day!

Although, apparently being in a happy relationship is bad for song writing.

"It's ruining my creativity. I'm writing all this happy [stuff]... People are going to be, like, 'What the hell happened to you.' It has been really difficult. I love it. It's an awesome problem to have," she tells People magazine.

Whether she sings depressing or upbeat songs, Miss Clarkson has a voice that will stand the test of time!

But it's nothing like American Idol!

It's just been announced that Kelly Clarkson, Robin Thicke, Lionel Richie and Jennifer Nettles will star on Duets, which has them searching the country for two singers to be their duet partners. Each week, the celebrity and one of their partners will take the stage and perform in front of a live studio audience, and at the end of the competition, one singer will win a recording contract with Hollywood Records.

"The simple fact that I get to go out and find two people I believe in, sing with them every week and help them accomplish their dream is an amazing thing I can't wait to be a part of," Clarkson says in a press release from ABC. Check out a sneak peek at the series in the video above!

Twitter/Anne V

Talk about an odd group!

Adam Levine, girlfriend Anne Vyalitsyna and Kelly Clarkson were snapped partying their butts off in Oklahoma on New Year's Eve, and it looks like everyone had plenty of spirits was in good spirits.

Anne V tweeted, "Best New Years ever!!!" and Kelly added, "Having the time of my life in Oklahoma with great friends!! Happy New Years Eve everybody!! 2012 is gonna be a great year!" But who was her NYE kiss, hmm?

Kelly Clarkson isn't afraid to voice her political support. The former American Idol champ is in favor of Texas politician Ron Paul for the 2012 presidential bid.

Clarkson, 29, Tweeted:

"I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."

A few of Clarkson's Twitter followers scoffed at her Tweet ... accusing the 76-year-old politician of homophobia and racism. In response, Kelly Tweeted, "I love all people and could care less if you like men or women. I have never heard that Ron Paul is a racist or homophobe?"

She then went on to say:

I am really sorry if I have offended anyone. Obviously that was not my intent. I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women's rights, men's rights, white/black/purple/orange rights. I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all. Out of all of the Republican nominees, he's my favorite."

Kelly Clarkson is such a happy traveler!

While making her way through the Miami airport after performing at the Jingle Ball concert in New York City, the bundled up former American Idol winner was all smiles while she pulled her own luggage.

The 29-year-old "Since You've Been Gone" singer must have been in the Christmas spirit ... wearing a bright red sweater. Deck the halls, indeed!

Up next, Kelly is recording a duet with Demi Lovato. Can't wait to hear their song!

Kelly Clarkson is back in the spotlight with her new album, Stronger. To help promote her fifth album, the first-ever American Idol winner sat down with the ladies of The View.

Since so many of her songs cover love, the topic of Clarkson's love life came up. She told the View ladies that, despite rumors, she's not a lesbian:

"I'm from a small town so, like, everyone's married with children or about to have children. So it's a little hard when you go home and people are like -- and that's why people think I'm gay -- because they're like 'Why aren't you married?' And I'm like, 'it doesn't happen for everyone right off the bat.'"

Watch the interview above.

Kelly Clarkson has been out of the limelight for a while, but she's looking for a comeback with her new video for "Mr. Know It All."

In the vid, the first-ever American Idol winner confronts her insecurities -- headlines calling her overweight and alone.

Lyrics include: "When somebody tells you something bout you/Think that they know you more than you do/So you take it down another pill to swallow."

Clarkson, 29, drops her fifth studio album in October.

Here's the thing - Taylor Swift is adorable, she plays the guitar and she's got a lovely voice on her albums, but when it comes to singing live and hitting the high notes, she probably wouldn't have made it past the first round of American Idol. What, it's true! And after her performance at the Grammys on Sunday, a lot of people were wondering how the country cutie who struggles to belt it out live walked away with no less than FOUR awards that night.

Swift’s label head, Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta defended Taylor as the “voice of a generation” and said, “This is not American Idol. This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note. This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It’s not about that technically perfect performance.” Um, but isn't part of being a Grammy winning singer being able to carry a tune? For the record, her performance at the CMAs was just as questionable, so it's not like this was a one time thing.

Naturally, season one Idol winner Kelly Clarkson was seeing red when she heard Borchetta's remark, and she immediately posted an open letter on her I Am Kelly blog to vent. Kelly wrote:

Wow …..Dear Scott Borchetta,

I understand defending your artist obviously because I have done the same in the past for artists I like, including Taylor, so you might see why its upsetting to read you attacking American Idol for producing simply vocalists that hit ‘the high notes’. Thank you for that ‘Captain Obvious’ sense of humor because you know what, we not only hit the high notes, you forgot to mention we generally hit the ‘right’ notes as well. Every artist has a bad performance or two and that is understandable, but throwing blame will not make the situation at hand any better. I have been criticized left and right for having shaky performances before (and they were shaky) and what my manager or label executives say to me and the public is “I’ll kick butt next time” or “every performance isn’t going to be perfect” ……I bring this up because you should take a lesson from these people and instead of lashing out at other artists (that in your ‘humble’ opinion lack true artistry), you should simply take a breath and realize that sometimes things won’t go according to plan or work out and that’s okay.

Sincerely,

One of those contestants from American Idol who only made it because of her high notes ;)

Think Taylor will have something to say to this? Let the games begin!