“I Cried at the First Note” — Hamilton Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda Says Kelly Clarkson “Possessed” His Song, Forcing Him to See His Own Musical Differently.

In the emotionally charged landscape of musical theater, few songs resonate as deeply as “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton. Positioned at the heart of the show’s second act, the ballad captures the overwhelming grief of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton after the loss of their son, Philip. While the original Broadway recording became iconic, it was Kelly Clarkson’s 2016 version for The Hamilton Mixtape that profoundly moved creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Miranda later shared that Clarkson’s interpretation brought him to tears from the very first note. According to him, she didn’t simply perform the song—she fully embodied it. Her delivery revealed new emotional layers within lyrics he had painstakingly written, offering him a fresh perspective on his own work. What could have been just another cover instead became a powerful artistic reimagining.

Clarkson’s performance was deeply personal. At the time of recording, she was pregnant with her son, Remington, which made the song’s themes of parental loss especially heartbreaking. She described the session as one of the most difficult moments of her career, admitting she was overwhelmed with emotion throughout. The vulnerability she brought to the studio transformed the ballad into something that felt intimate and almost prayerful.

Her rendition became a standout track on The Hamilton Mixtape, executive produced by Questlove. Released in December 2016, the album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and featured major artists such as Sia, Usher, and Alicia Keys. Clarkson’s version also made its mark on the Billboard Adult Pop Songs chart, demonstrating that a theatrical ballad could connect with mainstream audiences.

Like the most celebrated reinterpretations in music history, Clarkson’s take on “It’s Quiet Uptown” transcended expectations. For Miranda, it wasn’t just a contribution to a tribute album—it was a moment that reshaped how he experienced his own creation. Once again, Clarkson proved her ability to step into complex emotional material and make it feel deeply personal and universally powerful.