With the recent stories making the rounds about her, we had lost our faith in Kelly Clarkson’s brains. Today, though, we learn about some impressive decisions she made after American Idol.

US Magazine is sharing some quotes from a recent Reader’s Digest interview with Kelly.

“I have saved and saved, and I don’t have to work another day. When I won Idol and started working with a business manager, she asked, ‘What do you want?’ I was like, I don’t ever want to have to make a decision because I need money. So we accomplished that two years ago, and I’m set.”

We’re feeling nice today, otherwise we’d call her a braggart. But, it makes you wonder whether Clarkson should write a book, "Rub the Stardust Out of Your Eyes, This Ain’t Going to Last Forever: Money Rules for Reality Show Winners"

She could make millions. Not that she needs it. Miss Independent, indeed.

Kelly Clarkson was at the beach the other day getting some sun, and she was topless, but unfortunately she wouldn’t roll over for the money shot. There has been a lot of news about Kelly’s album not doing well, and that she’s gaining weight. Kelly is still a sweet girl, pretty, and very very talented. Everyone makes a lukewarm album once in a while, but given the right environment Kelly can put out an incredible album again. It looks like she’s trying to make that happen, and she looks great in a bikini. In fact she’s already outsold Rihanna’s album without a hit single. Here’s more:

KELLY Clarkson has been biting her tongue as we’ve reported on her fight with BMG/RCA boss Clive Davis. Clarkson insisted on recording her own songs on her third album, while Davis - mindful of needing hits - wanted her to sing tunes written by others. But in the August issue of Blender, Clarkson says she told Davis: "I don’t know you very well, and I am not a bull-[bleep]er. I get [that] you don’t like the album. You’re 80; you’re not supposed to like my album." She also said: "I literally got told to my face that it wouldn’t sell more than 600,000 copies. And I got lied to. One reason I don’t like working with people at the label is that they lie . . . If you’re going with the flow and not fighting, that’s settling. I can’t take that. Life is just too short to be a pushover." But meanwhile, Clarkson fired her manager and cancelled her summer tour because of slack ticket sales.

Kelly Clarkson is finally opening up about her battles with her record label and the venerable Clive Davis. Apparently, she thinks that she knows more about music than the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Producer.

She probably intends to vindicate herself by sharing this story, but it only servers to cast her as arrogant and foolish. (No wonder she thinks she’d make a bad mother.)

According to the New York Post:

Clarkson insisted on recording her own songs on her third album, while Davis - mindful of needing hits - wanted her to sing tunes written by others. But in the August issue of Blender, Clarkson says she told Davis: "I don’t know you very well, and I am not a bull-[bleep]er. I get [that] you don’t like the album. You’re 80; you’re not supposed to like my album."

Kelly, your album is tanking and you had to cancel your tour because nobody was interested. Despite your belief in your own business smarts, you obviously need better handlers, or this wouldn’t have come out in your interview with Blender.

Embarrassing.

Have you bought your tickets for the Kelly Clarkson concert yet? Me, neither.

Apparently very few music fans ran out to scoop them up when they went on sale.

Michael Rapino, CEO of LiveNation, one of the tour’s promoters, told The [New York] Post’s Dan Aquilante: "It’s mind-blowing when you stop to think about what Kelly Clarkson has achieved during her young career, but ticket sales have not been what we anticipated. We came to the realization that we had bit off more than we could chew."

Another promoter promises that someday Clarkson will be able to fill up arenas, but right now fans will get to see her "in a more intimate concert environment."

That’s gotta mean that she’ll be more available for private events.

Score! Our faux bar mitzvah is gonna totally rock!

At least Kelly Clarkson knows that about herself, right Seth?

MSNBC reports that Clarkson also confessed to Elle magazine that she’s never been in love.

“Love is something you work at. It doesn’t come easily. There are going to be bad days. You are going to have to work at loving someone when they are being an idiot.”
She adds: “People think they’re just going to meet the perfect guy. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Marriage and motherhood aren’t in the cards for Clarkson — not right now, anyway.
“My point of view is that I shouldn’t be a mother at all, because I’d be horrible,” she says. “I’m not willing to be that selfless.”

Amen, sister.

Can we just go ahead and set up a Baby Momma Boot Camp in the Hollywood hills and hire Clarkson as the first counselor?