Why Has Kelly Clarkson Been Forced To Give Up Jane Austen's Ring?

After a protracted disagreement and subsequent petition, the American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson has been forced to sell back a gold and turquoise ring once belonging to the celebrated British author JANE AUSTEN.

The singer had purchased the ring for more than $243,000 at auction earlier this year, outbidding the Jane Austen House Museum. However, the Britain's culture minister placed the ring under a provisional export bar until September 30 to give the museum time to match Clarkson's bid.

The museum launched a 'Save the Ring' campaign in order to find funds and, thanks to an anonymous donation of more than $159,000 in August, was able to purchase back the piece of jewellery from Ms Clarkson.

Mary Guyatt, curator of the museum at Austen's former residence in Hampshire, told the BBC that she had been "stunned by the generosity and light-footedness" of the campaign's supporters."

On hearing the news, Clarkson respectfully said the ring is "a beautiful national treasure," adding, "I am happy to know that so many Jane Austen fans will get to see it at Jane Austen's House Museum."

Mr Vaizey added, "It's clear from the number of people who gave generously to the campaign just how admired Jane Austen remains to this day."

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Austen's finest and most famous work Pride and Prejudice, which sells up to 50,000 copies each year in the UK. The story follows Elizabeth Bennet as she deals with issues of manners, upbringing, morality, education, and marriage in the landed gentry of early 19th-century England.

Kelly Clarkson Is No Longer The Owner Of Jane Austen's Ring