Kelly Clarkson has opened up about the challenging decision to conclude her popular talk show after seven successful seasons, citing overwhelming personal and professional commitments. The 43-year-old singer and television host announced earlier this month that The Kelly Clarkson Show, which premiered on NBC in 2019, will air its final episode at the end of this year.
Prioritising Family After Loss
In a heartfelt statement, Clarkson emphasised her need to focus on her two children, River, aged 11, and Remington, aged nine. This shift follows the tragic death of their father, Brandon Blackstock, from cancer last year at 48. During a recent appearance on Today, Clarkson elaborated on her reasoning with guest host Carson Daly.
"I think everybody probably gets the timing," she remarked. "Our family life, the dynamic changed a bit, and it has changed for a minute now. You got kids, we've all got kids, and it's one of those things when you kind of start seeing life as how precious it is, too. It's like, 'You know what, I'm really busy.'"
Clarifying Her Career Moves
Clarkson addressed misconceptions about her departure, noting that she is not quitting her career entirely. "I was like, 'I know everybody thinks she's like quitting,'" she said. "I'm like, 'I still have other jobs, so I'm still doing stuff.' There's just too much on the plate, so I was like you know what, it's time to pull back." She remains a coach on the upcoming season of The Voice and plans to continue making music and performing.
Emotional Farewell to a Successful Show
Ending the show was particularly difficult for Clarkson due to its success and her close bonds with the production team. "That's what was really hard. I work with a lot of people here, too. The crew's been incredible, it wasn't that the show isn't doing well," she explained. "That's what kind of sucked, everything was going well, and that's what was really hard. That was a really hard thing for me, but an easy decision as a momma. But it's a big deal for our team."
Gratitude and Future Plans
When announcing the show's conclusion last month, Clarkson shared a warm message on Instagram, expressing deep gratitude. "I have been extremely fortunate to work with such an outstanding group of people at [The Kelly Clarkson Show], both in Los Angeles and New York," she wrote. "There have been so many amazing moments and shows over these seven seasons. I am forever grateful and honored to have worked alongside the greatest band and crew you could hope for."
She clarified that stepping away from the daily schedule allows her to prioritise her children, which she described as necessary and right for this next chapter. Clarkson assured fans that this is not a final goodbye, hinting at future appearances and projects while thanking viewers for their support over the years.
