Kelly Clarkson’s new music video stars her baby daughter, is wrecking us completely

Kelly Clarkson just released her new music video for “Piece by Piece” and it’s making us want to hug the people who’ve always stayed by our sides.

Sprinkled throughout the video are lyrics and symbols that allude to Clarkson’s relationship with her father. “I had [my daughter] River, and even from holding her the first day, I was like, how could anyone walk away from that?” the singer tells Glamour.

“Then I started thinking that my husband [Brandon Blackstock] is such a great father. He’s not an audience guy—he is onstage doing the work with me. He changes diapers, he stays up, and if I’ve had a late night, he’ll wake up with her in the morning. We’re definite partners, and I felt so lucky.”

Even though Kelly’s father caused her emotional damage, she doesn’t want this specific song to come off as sad. Instead, she aims to see the positive side of things, to realize that past obstacles have made her the incredible mother she is today. “I was talking to my sister on the phone about how sometimes girls with daddy issues don’t find men like that! You find men who are all you knew, and I just feel so lucky. Maybe it’s because I waited and worked through my 20s. It’s a positive song, even though I know it sounds sad,” she explained.

“I don’t know what my father went through as a child, and I don’t know why he left and made the decisions he made, but everyone’s human. I don’t understand it for me, but I understand the depth of what that is—having a child—now, and he’s made me want to be that much more present in my family.”

This same sense of evolution is shown in Clarkson’s music video. In the beginning, she sings, “All I remember is your back / Walking towards the airport, leaving us all in your past. I traveled 1,500 miles to see you / Begged you to want me, but you didn’t want to,” as doors close and grasped hands are heartbreakingly separated.

But, by the end, Clarkson is able to represent how her journey has become one that’s full of love and light. “But piece by piece, he collected me up off the ground, where you abandoned things,” she croons, referring to her husband Brandon Blackstock. “Piece by piece, he filled the holes that you burned in me at six years old.”

Mothers are shown with their daughters – they’re smiling, laughing, and holding hands in the midst of twinkling stars. To end this melodic story on a meaningful note, Clarkson then gives her 1-year-old daughter River a kiss (and we all give our parents/guardians a call to tell them that we love them).

Since Kelly is currently pregnant with her second child, we can’t wait to see this beautiful family grow (and make more beautiful music video appearances?) in the future.

[Image via YouTube]