Rising country star Sam Barber is “losing his mind” after Kelly Clarkson delivered a powerhouse Kellyoke rendition of his hit song “Indigo,” which he famously performs with Avery Anna. The 21-year-old artist didn’t mince words, taking to social media to declare Clarkson’s version “better than the original!”
A Powerhouse ‘Kellyoke’ Performance
On the November 3, 2025, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Clarkson opened her beloved Kellyoke segment with the soul-stirring duet. Backed by her band, My Band Y’all, she transformed the original’s raw, introspective country feel into a powerhouse vocal showcase.
The performance captured the song’s vulnerability—”I know you’re worried at night, I won’t find my way”—before exploding into a belted chorus: “I used to shine bright like gold, now I’m all indigo.” Clarkson’s signature ad-libs and effortless runs added new layers of melancholy, turning the track into a stunning confessional anthem.
‘Better Than the Original!’: Sam Barber Reacts
The Nashville phenom, who had previously performed the song on Clarkson’s show, was ecstatic.
“Kelly just covered ‘Indigo’ and I’m losing my mind—it’s better than the original!” Barber posted. “Her voice on that chorus? Straight fire. Huge honor, y’all.”
His collaborator, Avery Anna, shared the excitement. She reposted a clip of the performance with the simple but glowing caption: “Kellyoke magic. Obsessed.”
Fans echoed the sentiment, with one user on X (formerly Twitter) writing, “Kelly Clarkson singing ‘Indigo’ by Sam Barber ft. Avery Anna. I love this song so much.”
From Viral Hit to Mainstream Staple
“Indigo” has been a slow-burn sensation since its release from Barber’s debut album, “Restless Mind.” The track, which captures the ache of lost love, resonated deeply with listeners and achieved significant commercial success.
- Chart Peak: It peaked at No. 98 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Streaming: The song dominated Spotify’s Viral 50 charts.
- Key Lyrics: The song’s vivid metaphors for heartbreak, such as “My colors are darker and cold” and “I’m startin’ to question if God’s tryna teach me a lesson,” have made it an anthem for the heartbroken.
A Full-Circle Moment for Barber
The cover is a significant full-circle moment for the young artist. Barber and Anna made their own debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show back in February 2025, performing a stripped-down, intimate rendition of “Indigo.” At the time, Clarkson herself praised the song as “a gut-punch of poetry.”
Now, Barber joins the ranks of artists who have been “Kelly Clarksoned”—a term fans use when Clarkson’s cover brings new life and a massive new audience to a song. As one viewer aptly noted, “Welcome to the club, Sam… you’ve officially been Kelly Clarksoned.”
