We’ve talked about it before – there are a million reasons to love Kelly Clarkson. And now there’s one more. She used her platform as a celebrity and the host of Sunday night’s Billboard Music Awards to call for action on ending gun violence.

Fighting back tears, Kelly says that producers encouraged her to send prayers to families and victims of Friday’s school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, which she agreed with. But they also wanted her to hold a moment of silence, which is where she drew the line.

A full transcript of Kelly’s speech is below:

"Before we start tonight’s show, there’s something I’d like to… this is gonna be so hard. There’s something I’d like to say about the tragedy Friday at Santa Fe High School. 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.

"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 moments of silence. 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? Mamas 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 because as people we’re 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 y'all, in your community, where you live, your friends. everybody. Let's have a moment of action. Let's have a moment of change."