All she needed to do was break away

Like the critics, Kelly Clarkson, above, was less than thrilled with her 2003 movie musical “From Justin to Kelly” – and she wants people to know that she had no choice in the matter.

“Two words: Contractually obligated!” the first “American Idol” winner tells Time magazine.

“I knew when I read the script it was going to be real, real bad, but when I won, I signed that piece of paper, and I could not get out of it,” says the 23-year-old singer.

“Seriously, I never thought I could act, but I knew I could sing. Not to sound cocky, but I can.”

Grammy voters apparently agree. Clarkson is up for two awards – best pop vocal album and performance – for her second album, “Breakaway,” at Wednesday’s ceremony, where she also will perform.

“I wanted to write a lot of my own songs on ‘Breakaway.’ Nobody else wanted me to,” she tells Time. “So there was a big ol’ fight.”

That led to her split with 19 Entertainment, the “Idol”-approved management firm.