“Don’t mess with Kelly”: Kelly Clarkson Once Fired A Guitar Player On Stage In The Middle Of A Song

Kelly Clarkson, the first-ever winner of American Idol, has long been beloved as one of America’s sweethearts. With her powerhouse vocals and endearing personality, she has captivated audiences across the globe. However, fans know that behind that warm exterior is a woman who isn’t afraid to put her foot down when necessary – even in the middle of a show.

In 2005, during her first headlining tour, the Breakaway Tour, Clarkson demonstrated just how serious she is about maintaining the integrity of her performances. As she was wrapping up the U.S. leg of the tour in Portland, Oregon, an unexpected event unfolded that would become a notable moment in her career. Clarkson fired her guitarist, Dwayne Larring, on stage, in the middle of a song.

The incident occurred while performing “A Moment Like This.” The video footage from the night, although grainy, captures Clarkson’s frustration. Following Larring around the stage, visibly upset by something he had done, she suddenly broke the news to both Larring and the audience: “Tonight is Dwayne’s last night cause he just got fired.”

Clarkson didn’t miss a beat in her performance, continuing with the song. However, once it was over, she addressed the crowd, still visibly agitated:

“How many of you know how to respect someone? I want everybody to give Dwayne Larring, the guitarist that just went around the stage and tried to ruin this show for y’all, I want you to give him a hand right now. I’m gonna pray for ya Dwayne, because you’re gonna need it. You’re gonna need it when I get off this stage.”

She then introduced her next song, “Breakaway,” with a telling comment: “You gotta break away from people like that.”

Rumors quickly circulated about what could have caused Clarkson to fire Larring so abruptly. Some speculated that he had flipped off a member of the audience or spat on someone. However, Clarkson clarified the situation in a rare interview, stating that it was nothing as dramatic as the rumors suggested.

“He was having a hard time in life, and I fought hard for him because everybody was having a hard time with him on the road. And he wasn’t happy. He was messing with people’s gear on stage and messing with the show. Everybody goes through hard times, me included, everyone, but it just got overwhelming and it was like, ‘Man, you’re ruining the vibe, this has gotta end now.’”

Clarkson expressed that the moment was particularly upsetting because she had advocated for Larring, despite others wanting to let him go earlier. She added that he was now “doing well.” Indeed, Larring went on to become the guitarist for the Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline, having previously been with Sonicflood before joining Clarkson’s band.

For Larring, this incident must stand as one of the more embarrassing moments of his career. For Clarkson, it solidified her reputation as an artist who values respect and professionalism, even if it means making tough decisions in the spotlight.