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Kelly Clarkson -

Kelly Clarkson has become more famous for her hit TV talk show than her music in recent years, but recently she got back to the studio and produced some new bangers. In June, 2023, Clarkson released her 10th studio album 'Chemistry,' which she has revealed is all about the painful, public breakdown of her marriage to Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson and Blackstock got married in 2013 and have two children together, but Blackstock and his father, Narvel Blackstock, also worked with Clarkson through their talent management agency. During the messy divorce proceedings, Narvel Blackstock sued Clarkson for unpaid services and future commissions. Clarkson then countersued him alleging that his company in fact owes her millions and broke labor laws in their practice. The divorce was finalized in 2022, with Clarkson being ordered to pay Blackstock a hefty sum in spousal support, but the lawsuits are still ongoing. 

Needless to say, tensions are still high and the feelings are still raw.  Clarkson dropped the lyrics to two of the singles from her upcoming album on April 13, 2023, telling fans, "Here are the lyrics so y'all can learn them before it's out." The song 'Mine' shades Blackstock and appears to wish him a taste of his own medicine with the lyrics, “Someone’s gonna show you / How a heart can be used / Like you did mine." In the song 'Me,' she sings about losing her identity and learning to put herself back together after the breakup. "Loved you so much / Took an army to pull me up," the lyrics read. "But now on the other side / I remembered I could fly." Clarkson goes on, "I don't need somebody to hold me / Don't need somebody to love me / Don't need somebody to pick these pieces up."

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Miley Cyrus -

Miley Cyrus' 2023 single 'Flowers' was hailed as another breakup anthem, and if there were any questions about who the song is about, you need only look to the release date: January 13, which happens to be her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth's birthday. But the connections don't end there. Beyond singing about how she can love herself better than he can, Cyrus sings in the opening verse, “We were good, we were gold/ Kind of dream that can’t be sold/ We were right till we weren’t/ Built a home and watched it burn,” which likely refers to the devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018 which destroyed the couple’s Malibu home. 

The singer's joyful dancing in the 'Flowers' music video is said to resemble the moves Cyrus pulled with Hemsworth in an Access Hollywood interview at the Vanity Fair Oscars party when a reporter asked how they dance together. Hemsworth chided her, "Don’t do it, don’t do it. Sweetheart, we’re on the carpet," Billboard reports. Well, she can take herself dancing now. 

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Shakira -

On Jan. 11, Argentinean super-producer Bizarrap released a new episode of his YouTube series 'BZRP Music Sessions.' Fans were delighted and shocked to see that superstar Shakira was the guest, but they were even more shocked when she took to the microphone. The Queen of Latin Pop performed a never-before-heard song which directly addressed her 2022 split from long-term partner Gerard Piqué, who was rumored to have cheated. She pulled no punches in asserting her power as a woman and as a star, while tearing Piqué to pieces. 

"A wolf like me isn’t for guys like you," she declares in Spanish, referencing her 2009 hit 'She Wolf.' “I won’t get back with you, not if you cry, not even if you beg me,”  she continues. "It’s clear that it’s not my fault if they criticize you. I just make music, sorry if it splashes you.” She emphasizes the "pique" sound in the Spanish word splash (salpique), just in case it wasn't already clear who the song was about! 

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Taylor Swift -

The song 'Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve' on Swift's 2022 album 'Midnights' caused a stir as soon as it was released. Fans of Swift's are certain the song is about one of her most deplorable exes, John Mayer. Swift began dating Mayer when she was just 19 years old and he was 32.  While she doesn't mention any names in the song, she frequently references being 19 years old as she dissects the regrettable romance with a razor-sharp scalpel. The song opens with the lines: "If you would've blinked then I would've looked away at the first glance / If you tasted poison you could've spit me out at the first chance / And if I was some paint, did it splatter on a promising grown man? / And if I was a child did it matter if you got to wash your hands?" Fans don't think it's a coincidence that the song was track number 19 on the album. The most devastating line in the song is in the final verse: "Living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts / Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first." 

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Demi Lovato -

Demi Lovato dropped her new album 'Holy Fvck' in August 2022, but fans had already been discussing one particular song for weeks prior. Lovato released a teaser of the single '29' which seemed to make references to her ex-boyfriend, Wilmer Valderrama. Lovato and Valderrama met when she was 17 and he was 29. They started dating when she was 18 and continued on and off for six years. Lovato finally broke it off in 2016. The title might refer to the age she was when she wrote the song, or the age Valderrama was when they started dating. The significant age gap raised eyebrows at the time but Lovato has often spoken fondly of her ex and credited him with helping her work through her issues with addiction and disordered eating. However, it seems that the gloves have now come off. Lovato appears to be calling out her ex for taking advantage of her when she was so much younger than him: "Far from innocent / what the f--k's consent? / Numbers told you not to / but that didn't stop you." Later in the song she says, "I see you're quite the collector / Yeah you're 12 years her elder/ Maybe now it doesn't matter / But I know f--king better." As it so happens, Valderrama's current partner, model Amanda Pacheco, is the same age as Lovato, making her 12 years younger than him. 

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Jhené Aiko: 'Triggered' - Big Sean and Jhené Aiko were one of hip-hop's hottest couples. However, they went separate ways, with Aiko sounding heartbroken on her single, 'Triggered.' "I'm triggered, when I see your face/ Triggered, when I hear your name," she sings.

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Beyoncé: 'Irreplaceable' - These days, Beyoncé is enjoying married life with Jay-Z. However, back in 2006, she was a bold bachelorette, singing "we're finished" to an unnamed ex.

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Carly Simon: 'You’re So Vain' - It's said that 'You’re So Vain' is aimed at three men, including Warren Beatty. The singer has yet to reveal her other two targets.

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Justin Timberlake: 'Cry Me a River' - 'Cry Me a River' came about after Timberlake and Britney Spears broke up. "Now it's your turn to cry," he sings over choir chants and beat-boxing.

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Britney Spears: 'Everytime' - It's said that Spears replied to Timberlake with this somber single. Taken from her 'In the Zone' album, 'Everytime' is a heart-wrenching ballad about their relationship.

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No Doubt: 'Don't Speak' - For 12 years, Stefani dated fellow No Doubt bandmate Tony Kanal. When they called it off, Stefani wrote 'Don't Speak' for the band, making rehearsals just a little bit awkward.

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Bob Dylan: 'Idiot Wind' - After Bob Dylan split with his wife Sara, he released the album 'Blood on the Tracks.' It features this scathing song, with Dylan snarling "You're an idiot, babe." No hard feelings?

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Alanis Morissette: 'You Oughta Know' - It's widely reported that this Alanis Morissette track is about 'Full House' star Dave Coulier.

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Eminem: 'Kim' - Following a high-profile divorce, Eminem took aim at his childhood sweetheart with this vicious track. Listen at your own discretion, as Eminem takes things to horrifically violent extremes.

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Outkast: 'Ms Jackson' - 'Ms Jackson' is a party playlist mainstay, yet it’s actually a bitter breakup song. Specifically, it was written by André 3000 about his ex, Erykah Badu, as well as her mother.

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Eamon: 'F____ It (I Don’t Want You Back)' - Eamon didn't hold back on his debut single, firing off curses at his unnamed ex. It's since become a classic breakup anthem.

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Lily Allen: 'Smile' - Lily Allen was deceptive with her debut single, crafting an upbeat pop song with pretty cruel lyrics. "When I see you cry / Yeah, it makes me smile," she tells her ex.

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Marvin Gaye: 'Is That Enough' - After a nasty divorce, Marvin Gaye was wrapped up in alimony and child support. He sang out his frustrations on this smooth jazz number: "Why do I have to pay attorney fees?"

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Kelly Clarkson: 'Since U Been Gone' - Clarkson's breakthrough hit was a fond farewell to an ex. "You had your chance, you blew it," she reminds them, in this passionate power ballad.

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Jonas Brothers: 'Paranoid' - Over the years, Taylor Swift has written many songs about her exes. In 2009, Swift’s ex Joe Jonas fired back, with a little help from his brothers. "That's why my ex is still my ex," they sing.

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Joni Mitchell: 'The Last Time I Saw Richard' - Joni Mitchell's 'Blue' is a classic breakup album. The last track is apparently dedicated to Mitchell’s first husband, Chuck.

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Mariah Carey: 'Infinity' - After Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon went their separate ways, she released the deliciously shady 'Infinity.' "Talkin' 'bout you're mad, could it be that you just lost the best you've ever had?"

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Fleetwood Mac: 'Dreams' - This timeless single was written by Stevie Nicks, after she ended an eight-year relationship with fellow member Lindsey Buckingham.

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Paul McCartney/Nitin Sawhney: 'My Soul' - McCartney broke things off with Heather Mills in 2008. That same year, he recorded his heartfelt goodbye, singing, "My soul, your heart / Two worlds / Apart."

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Rihanna: 'Cold Case Love' - Rihanna addressed Chris Brown on 'Cold Case Love,' singing, "What you did to me was a crime." Rihanna was, of course, referring to Brown assaulting her in 2009.

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Kanye West: 'Blame Game' -

On 'Blame Game,' West went into detail about his relationship with ex Amber Rose. There's even a cameo from Chris Rock in a darkly comic sketch.

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Big Sean: 'I Don’t F____ With You' - When things didn't work out with fiancé Naya Rivera, Big Sean aired out his frustrations on this song.

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Taylor Swift: 'Dear John' - On 'Dear John,' Swift didn’t leave much to the imagination, penning an icy diss to ex John Mayer.

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Justin Bieber: 'Sorry' - On this tropical pop hit, Justin Bieber pleaded for forgiveness from a past lover. He even showed up to 'Ellen' to reveal that the song is all about Selena Gomez.

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The Weeknd: 'Call Out My Name' - The Weeknd also dated Selena Gomez. On 'Call Out My Name,' he apparently addresses her. "I almost cut a piece of myself for your life," he yells, possibly referring to her kidney transplant in 2017.

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Drake: 'Jaded' - Drake isn't one to name names, but 'Jaded' seems to refer to collaborator (and possible past lover) Jorja Smith. The biggest clue is the "difference in ages" lyric, with 11 years between the two musicians.

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Marianne Faithfull: 'Why’d Ya Do It' - Marianne and Mick Jagger had a classic rock 'n' roll romance. Faithfull said goodbye with this seven-minute song, possibly aimed at either Mick or then-husband, Ben Brierly.

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Lauryn Hill: 'Ex-Factor' - 'Ex-Factor' is a classic breakup song, apparently aimed at fellow Fugees member, Wyclef Jean.

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Björk: 'Stonemilker' - In 2013, Björk ended her 13-year relationship with Matthew Barney. She wrote an album about her recovery from heartbreak, starting with the strong 'Stonemilker.'

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Kelela: 'A Message' -

On her EP 'Hallucinogen,' Kelela told a breakup story in reverse. 'A Message' focuses on the end of the relationship. "I'm gonna let your body go for sure," she sings.

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Ariana Grande: 'Thank U, Next' -

'Thank U, Next' comes after high-profile breakups with Pete Davidson and the late Mac Miller. "Wish I could say, 'Thank you' to Malcolm / 'Cause he was an angel,” Grande sings, ready for what's next.

See also: Movies that ruined real-life marriages

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