Kelly Clarkson "likes the story" of British boy band One Direction.

The American songstress and winner of the first season of American Idol was asked by Simon Cowell to pen a song for the pop group.

Kelly obliged and was honoured to have the opportunity to work with One Direction.

"When Simon Cowell put me forward to write for One Direction I said: 'Let me hear them first.' Simon has been really supportive since I won American Idol. Tell Me a Lie is the cut I've got on 1D's album [Up All Night], as I like the story of them, how they came together as a group," she said to Pressparty.com. "While I wrote the song for me, it didn't fit in the current album, as I never want an album to sound like one thought."

Kelly is a huge fan of British musicians.

"One Direction have worked so well in America as well as the UK because people love a story, plus they have this innocence about them that attracts people," she explained. "There's a lot of British talent doing well in America right now. I'm a huge fan of Simon Cowell and Jessie J."