Kelly Clarkson Reveals First Reaction to Jonas Brothers ‘Year 3000’ Mention

Kelly Clarkson and the Jonas Brothers’ history together dates back all the way to the “Year 3000.”

On the first episode of Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson, which airs Aug. 19 at 10 p.m. EST, the “Stronger” singer sat down with Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas to discuss the stories behind some of their biggest hits.

In a preview for the episode, Clarkson, 43, recalled the moment she first found out the brothers had name-checked her in their 2006 remake of Busted’s “Year 3000.”

“It was in a meet and greet and somebody [said], ‘Did you hear the Jonas Brothers song?’ and I was like ‘What, no?’ and they were like ‘They say your name!’ and I was like “What!” she remembered of the exchange. “I was like, ‘That’s so cool to be referenced in any way in pop culture — I love it.'”

Their decades-long connection goes even further, they explain, as one of their early memories performing as a band happened at a festival that Clarkson was headlining in New Jersey in the 2000s.

“For like years as a way to get our foot in the door in interviews we’d be like, ‘Yeah we opened for Kelly Clarkson,'” Nick, 32, recalled. “We were not an opener — we were like in a parking lot on the B, B, B, C stage.”

“I handed out valet tickets,” Joe, 36, chimed in with a smile. 

The group then kicked off an acoustic rendition of the tune with Clarkson jumping to her feet to yell out “Kelly Clarkson” when the line came around as the audience cheered. 

The Jonas Brothers episode is the first of four installments of Clarkson’s new Songs & Stories series that will include an Aug. 26 episode with Gloria Estefan, a Sept. 2 episode with Teddy Swims and a Sept. 9 episode with Lizzo. 

“Every song’s got a story, and this special gives us a chance to hear what’s behind the music straight from the artists who lived it,” Clarkson said in a release earlier this summer. “Getting to share the stage with them and hear about the moments that shaped their paths — and where they’re headed next — is pretty special.”

The four-part special is inspired by a segment of the same name that Clarkson featured on her talkshow The Kelly Clarkson Show with the likes of Chris Martin, Alanis Morissette and Pink. 

Jonas Brothers’ appearance on the show comes as they continue on their JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown Tour that kicked off on Aug. 10 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. 

“We feel really proud of the show we’ve built and excited for fans to see it,” Nick told PEOPLE ahead of the first show. “And we have some really special surprises in store.”

Just over a week into the tour, surprises so far have included appearances from Jesse McCartney, Demi Lovato, Click Five and Hanson.

Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson premieres Aug. 19 at 10 p.m. EST on NBC.