Though pop sensation Taylor Swift swept the Grammy awards with four wins, critics savaged her "pitch challenged" live performance (watch it below). "Taylorgate" swung into full force when Swift's manager, Scott Borchetta, issued a statement praising Swift's "emotional" (if not "technical") singing skills – and faulting "American Idol" for perpetuating the notion that singing is all about hitting "high notes." Hours later, "Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson bit back, pointing out that her "high notes" are also "the right notes."
What's the ruckus? Watch the performance that started it all:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's oppositionThe Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
-
How the woke right gained power in the USUnder the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
