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Kelly Clarkson: Motherhood 'changed my world in the most awesome way'

No surprise: Kelly Clarkson has found having a baby to be a life-altering experience.
/ Source: TODAY

No surprise: Kelly Clarkson has found having a baby to be a life-altering experience.

"My whole world took a big 180," the singer told People magazine. "I never thought I was going to be a mom, so it's very much changed my world in the most awesome way."

Kelly Clarkson and her daughter River on the cover of People magazine
Anders Overgaard / People

We completely understand — because Clarkson is taking her fans along for the ride with regular glimpses of 8-month-old River Rose, who just bowls us over every time we see her.

For a perfect example of that, just take a look at that delighted face on the cover of the magazine! (Mom calls River the "happiest baby on the planet," after all.)

Clarkson is also a stepmom to her husband Brandon Blackstock's kids, Savannah, 13, and Seth, 8, and she told the magazine that she understands she's more than just a singer now.

"I love what I do, but I feel like I relied on my career a lot for my self-worth," she said. "I'm a mother and a wife and have this whole other thing going on."

And when she's gone, Clarkson said she hopes people remember all of her accomplishments — on the stage and at home. "The biggest success I want is that whenever I die people will say, ‘She was so successful as a mother, and as a wife.’ That’s kind of my big goal."

A worthy aspiration!

The newest issue of People magazine, with Clarkson and River on the cover, will be on newsstands Friday, Feb. 27.

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