This performance is more than just alright, alright, alright.
Kelly Clarkson and Matthew McConaughey joined forces on her talk show Sept. 30 to sing a poem the actor wrote set to the tune of ZZ Top’s 1972 track “Just Got Paid” that he came up with while on a road trip.
“You know that little chorus in ZZ Top’s ‘I just got paid today and got myself a pocketful of change?’” he said before humming the music.
“That meter — all of a sudden, lyrics and couplets started fitting into it. And on this road trip, I recorded them, got back and there was, like, 120 lines. And I was like, ‘Let’s look at this and see if any of it’s worth a damn.’ That one’s called ‘Changing Lanes.’”
“Changing Lanes” is one of the pieces included in his new book, “Poems & Prayers.”
“The Lost Bus” star then asked if Clarkson wanted to perform the song with him, prompting her to admit she knew about it, while pointing out her band on the set. The pair then walked over toward the band, which began playing.
Kelly Clarkson (left) applauds Matthew McConaughey (right) on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”Weiss Eubanks / NBC
The Oscar winner grabbed a microphone, while Clarkson stood to his right and worked as his backup singer as he performed his modified take on “Just Got Paid.”
“I said I just got paid today, I got myself a pocket full of change,” he began while Clarkson provided some soulful background help as he altered the lyrics of the original song.
“There’s no need to use my blinker now, no, when I’m changing lanes / Be best at what you’re good at, not better at what you’re not / So you can win again at what you want at before you go on fighting with what you fought.”
Kelly Clarkson (left) helped Matthew McConaughey (right) sing a ZZ Top-inspired song on “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”Weiss Eubanks / NBC
‘Cause if you shoot for an A and end up with a B it’s worth more than an F when you try to make a C,” he continued before a rocking guitar solo.
“And when more than you can imagine goes on and exceeds your expectation / well, go on, bet on it, believe that it is much more than just a vacation,” he continued. “When none of it matters no, and nothing, nothing is in vain / There’s no need to use your blinker then, not when you’re changing lanes.”
Clarkson then bowed toward McConaughey and clapped as the song wrapped up.
“Give it up for Matthew McConaughey, everybody!” she cheered as the audience howled.