Billboard Music Awards: Kelly Clarkson calls for action against gun violence

The singer foregoes moment of silence during emotional speech in wake of Texas school shooting

Singer Kelly Clarkson opened the Billboard Music Awards asking viewers to take 'a moment of action' against gun violence instead of a moment of silence.

Clarkson - who hosted the Sunday ceremony - delivered an emotional speech reflecting on Friday's shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas.

The school shooting resulted in 10 deaths and 13 wounded. The attack clearly affected Clarkson - who is a Texas native and a mother of four children herself.

"Tonight, they wanted me to say that obviously we want to pray for all the victims and pray for their families," Clarkson said. "But they also wanted me to do a moment of silence. And I’m so sick of moments of silence. It’s not working. Obviously."

In between tears, Clarkson continued: "Why don’t we not do a moment of silence? Why don’t we do a moment of action, a moment of change? Why don’t we change what’s happening? Mommas and daddies should be able to send their kids to school, to church, to movie theatres, to clubs, you should be able to live your life without that kind of fear."

The 36-year-old musician used her speech to put the focus back on individual communities.

"We need to do better," she added. "We’re failing our children, we’re failing our communities, we’re failing their families."

She continued by saying that she couldn't "imagine getting that phone call or that knock on the door."

"Let’s have a moment of action, let’s have a moment of change," Clarkson said.