Kelly Clarkson Opened Up The Billboard Music Awards With a Tribute to the Santa Fe Victims

The Texas native wants to make change.

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Kelly Clarkson opened up the 2018 Billboard Music Awards with a tribute to the victims of the Santa Fe High School shooting.

The singer and first-time award show host was asked by the show's producers honor the victims, and she announced on air that she would advocate for change instead of holding a moment of silence.

Read her speech in full below.

I'm a Texas girl and my home state has had so much heartbreak over this past year and once again, y'all, we're grieving for more kids that have died for just an absolute no reason at all. And tonight, they wanted me to say that, obviously, we want to pray for all the victims, we want to pray for their families, but, they also wanted me to do a moment of silence. And I'm so sick of moment of silences. Like, god, it's not working. Like, obviously.

So, why don't we not do a moment of silence. Why don't we do a moment of action. Why don't we do a moment of change. Why don't we change what's happening? Because it's horrible. And, mommas and daddies should be able to send their kids to school, to church, to movie theaters, to clubs. You should be able to live your life without that kind of fear. So, we need to do better. We need to do better. People are failing our children. We're failing our communities. We're failing their families. I can't imagine - I have four children, I cannot imagine getting that phone call or that knock on the door.

So, instead of a moment of silence, I want to respect them and honor them with tonight. In your community, where you live, with friends, everybody, let's have a moment of action. Let's have a moment of change.

Clarkson later said that since she is not a comedian or someone who has previously hosted a show, she would be doing so in her own way tonight. She's clearly not afraid to take matters into her own hands.

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