Main image: The Belnord (Google Maps). Inset: Kelly Clarkson performing at the 2018 DoD Warrior Games Opening Ceremony (Photo: Marc Piscotty, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons)
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New day, new inspiration moving the Upper West Side brightly. Original American Idol champion and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson, a current Upper West Side resident, released a new track, “Where Have You Been,” on Thursday, May 1. The debut aired on her SiriusXM channel, The Kelly Clarkson Connection, where she revealed that her muse for the track was the Arconia—the fictional name of The Belnord at 225 West 86th Street. Much like the hit comedic caper on Hulu, there’s more to this tale if you’re willing to keep digging.
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“I’ve rarely done something like this, but I was watching Only Murders in the Building — it’s Martin Short’s face. He says to Meryl Streep’s character in the show, ‘Where have you been?’” Clarkson said on Sirius. “He’s like, in awe. And I was like, ‘Has there been a—has anyone written a song?’ Because the song is happy. It’s like you found something that you thought was basically a unicorn and did not exist.”
The captivating moment Clarkson is referring to comes in Season 3, Episode 1 of Only Murders in the Building. Meryl Streep’s character, Loretta Durkin, is auditioning for Martin Short’s Broadway play, Death Rattle Dazzle. Amidst her “cast me” monologue, Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) is absolutely awestruck—like he’s discovered the missing link. The plotline gets even sweeter as Durkin not only becomes a key cast member but also the love of Putnam’s life. The two get married at the Arconia in the Season 4 finale, which is where the show left off. But with filming for Season 5 underway around the Upper West Side, we’ll be seeing their relationship continue to bloom soon.
The cherry on top? Streep and Short are dating in real life now. According to Page Six, the two had been seeing each other for well over a year before the outlet confirmed the previously rumored relationship. The pair had been appearing at events together, fueling speculation. A source told Page Six that, much like what transpired on the Broadway stage in Only Murders, the relationship was “completely unexpected” and “took them by surprise.”
Clarkson also collaborated with Only Murders cast member Steve Martin on her 10th studio album, Chemistry, released in 2023. Martin, busting out his banjo chops, plays the instrumental on the track “I Hate Love.”
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“Where Have You Been” was released globally on May 2 and marks Clarkson’s first non-holiday single since Chemistry. She has said she’s working on new music under her recently launched independent label, which she owns. While an official album hasn’t been announced yet, if you keep digging, we might see one soon enough.
Clarkson has also given kudos to the West 69th Street Halloween celebration. In a 2023 Instagram video, she shared that her son was enamored with the elaborate setups—including skeletons rappelling from a house. “It was crazy,” said the Idol winner. “He loves Halloween.”
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