As one small town reality TV star to another, former American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson has offered some words of wisdom to Britain’s Got Talent’s Susan Boyle.

“She’s from a small town, I’m from a smaller town, it takes time to be like, ‘Wow, some people are really mean’,” Clarkson said on a GMTV interview.

“But you have to focus on the people that are really positive around you.”

She added: “I think every person who goes through this – right at the beginning it’s very hard, it’s hard on you. Because people can be vicious, I mean especially with her. I’ve heard nothing but horrible things people say about her.”