Clarkson co-wrote the track with Claude Kelly and its producers Max Martin and Dr. Luke, but refused to include her name in the credits, not wanting to be associated with the lattermost.

[2][1] "My Life Would Suck Without You" was released as the lead single from the album and premiered on January 13, 2009, in the United States on New York City's Z100 radio station and was made available to download three days later.

The accompanying music video was directed by Wayne Isham and presents Clarkson's relationship with her fictional boyfriend as being fluctuating and tumultuous as the two are depicted arguing and throwing out each other's belongings whilst mirroring the sentiments of the song and the positive influence each has on the other.

[4] Record executive Clive Davis hired Gottwald and Martin to produce a new song for Clarkson in 2008 after her 2007 album My December, for which she refused to work with them, under-performed commercially.

[6] After the song was finalized and significant changes to the lyrics had been made, Clarkson said RCA approached her about taking a proper writing credit for the track, which she refused in order to make a point to the label as they failed to meet her one request which was not to have her work with Luke again.

and "straight-up pop [that] cascades into an avalanche of synths and a steady beat," mentioning that it "has all the characteristics of a surefire radio hit.

"[20] Nick Levine of Digital Spy rated the song four out of five stars, commenting "It's as original as shoving a slither of cheese between two slices of bread and calling it lunch, and the lyrics are a bit juvenile for the 26-year-old Clarkson, but these quibbles melt away when the heroically catchy chorus arrives.

"[21] Rhiannon Haller of Michigan Daily gave the same rating, praising it as "pure, radio-pop goodness that’s bound to become the guilty pleasure of many.

"[22] On March 5, 2013, Billboard ranked the song number eight on its list of Top 100 American Idol Hits of All Time.

[25] "My Life Would Suck Without You" and Clarkson's own "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" are also the only songs by an American Idol alum to top the Hot 100 chart that were not associated with the show.

Clarkson remains the only winner of an international version of Pop Idol to top the UK Singles Chart.

The video begins with Clarkson sitting on a swing set at night before segueing into her earlier memories as a small girl playing on a playground together with her young male best friend, teasingly pushing each other around.

The shot closes in on the necklace, then pulls back to reveal it's still worn as a bracelet on the wrist of now-adult Clarkson, her boyfriend (played by Houston Rhines) shows up at her apartment door, presumably after an argument.

Such items include numerous articles of clothing, magazines, a guitar (which Clarkson tries to stop him throwing out), and a fishbowl (with the fish being taken out and put in a glass first, after which they look out the window).

The latter portion of the video shows the two driving in a first generation Ford Bronco (with the necklace/bracelet hanging from the rear view mirror), eventually getting into an argument.

Michael Scott plays the song in "Ultimatum," a seventh-season episode of The Office, to celebrate Holly Flax not being engaged to AJ.