NEW YORK, Oct. 15 -- A mechanical singing bird has become the unlikely star of Kelly Clarkson's latest controversy, with a Brooklyn curiosity shop now putting a staggering US$15 million (RM61 million) price tag on the automaton at the centre of a public spat with the singer.

The new figure is 1,000 times the US$15,000 price previously associated with Molly, the shop's singing and dancing bird mascot, following a dispute over Clarkson's treatment during a visit to Art of Play.

And the drama is showing no signs of dying down, with the store's co-owner, Adam Rubin, accusing the Since U Been Gone hitmaker of unleashing a wave of online hostility against his small business.

"As you've noticed, we've raised the price due to popular demand. I...