LOS ANGELES (WJW) — Kelly Clarkson said one of her most beloved holiday hits came together in record time — faster than her sushi arrived.
In a video published June 12 on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” YouTube channel, the pop star and talk show host answered fan questions in a segment titled “Ask Kelly Anything.” One person asked Clarkson, 43, which song from her two-decade career was written the fastest.
Kelly Clarkson’s wrote ‘Underneath the Tree’ in minutes
“A Christmas song. It was ‘Underneath the Tree,’” Clarkson replied. “I was working with Greg Kurstin in the studio. I ordered sushi, and when it arrived I had written it.”
Clarkson said the 2013 holiday tune flowed easily, in part because of her love for the season.
“I think because I really love Christmas, so I write them really quickly for Christmas — because they feel good,” she said. “You can be a little cheesy, you know? You don’t have to worry about being cool.”
THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW — Episode 4063 — Pictured: Kelly Clarkson — (Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) 
THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW — Episode J077 — Pictured: Kelly Clarkson — (Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 28: Kelly Clarkson is seen performing during the Christmas Tree Lighting at the Rockefeller Plaza pre-tape on November 28, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) 
CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER — 2023 — Pictured: Kelly Clarkson — (Photo by: Scott Gries/NBC via Getty Images) 
THE KELLY CLARKSON SHOW — Episode BP055 — Pictured: Kelly Clarkson — (Photo by: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
“Underneath the Tree” peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Despite the quick process for this particular song, Clarkson admitted most of her songwriting doesn’t come so easily.
“They don’t all come out like that, though,” she said. “Usually, it takes forever. But that one was quick.”
See the full video here.