NEW YORK — On a Tuesday morning at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, fans lined up to see the live-taping of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” Season 7 premiere. Before entering the studio, there were whispers of what song host Kelly Clarkson may open the new season with, and if audience members would get to hear it for themselves.
Fans who attended the live taping were in for a treat; she ended the taping with “Kellyoke.” For Clarkson, the guiding theme of the talk show’s new season is “light,” and she fittingly performed a cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights.”
The talk show returned to NBC on Monday, Sept. 29, just weeks after Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, died from melanoma on Aug. 7.
Clarkson didn’t mention his passing, and seemed energized to be back with her crew. The first episode kicked off with a bubbly interview with “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” co-stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, who bonded with Clarkson over the highs and lows of parenthood. Then it took a heavy turn as Clarkson brought in several heroes who saved lives during the flooding in the Texas Hill Country, a tragedy close to the Texas native’s heart. Tears swelled in the eyes of Clarkson and audience members alike while the Kerrville ISD bus drivers, who risked their lives to rescue more than 900 kids from deadly Texas floodwaters on July 4, 2025, shared their stories.
The show’s music director, Jason Halbert, another Texan, says the premiere was “emotional for all of us.”
“I don’t know how (Clarkson) compartmentalizes watching that segment, super emotional, and then jumping into, like, making crafts with kids, and then jumping into emoting a song,” he told USA TODAY at the taping.
Halbert says that viewers can expect to see these emotional rollercoasters explored through the songs featured on “Kellyoke.”
“A lot happened for us all in the last year, on personal and career levels,” he says. “You’re going to see some songs reflect things that maybe she wouldn’t talk about verbally in a sitting on the couch interview.”
But there’s more than just grief — the new season leaves plenty of room for joy and hope to shine through. In episode 3, airing Oct. 1, Clarkson sings the infectious pop anthem “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves.
Showrunner Alex Duda says when it comes to featuring segments like the Texas floods, it’s not only about sharing the story of devastation, but about how “communities can come together and try to rebuild.”
“That’s what we’ve done since the beginning. When the world is dark or heavy, look for the light,” she says, adding that “light” has always been a throughline for the talk show. “We wanted to reaffirm that in our premiere this year.”
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Clarkson’s first TV appearance after her ex-husband’s death
Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock “bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” according to a statement his family shared with USA TODAY at the time. “He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”
The news of Blackstock’s passing broke just one day after Clarkson, 43, announced on social media that the August dates of her Las Vegas residency will be postponed to be “fully present” for their children, River Rose, 11, and Remy Alexander, 9, amid his illness. The hiatus followed a prolonged absence from her talk show earlier in the year.
“We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” the family statement concluded.
The couple wed in 2013, and their divorce was finalized in March 2022. Clarkson was awarded primary custody of the children two years prior.
In 2023, Clarkson addressed her divorce from Blackstock during an interview with USA TODAY and her “anger” stemming from their split.
“I was very, very angry. I know a lot of people have gone through grief or a big tragedy like a divorce and I know it’s a common thing, unfortunately,” Clarkson said. “But there’s nothing common when you’re going through it.
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What’s to come on ‘The Kelly Clarkson’ show Season 7
Throughout the season, Clarkson is slated to sit down with guests such as Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Sylvester Stallone, Matthew McConaughey and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
The “Kellyoke” songs will reflect not only what Clarkson has been feeling, but what she’s listening to, Halbert says.
“It’s probably 10% celebs requesting, 10% us pushing stuff, and 80% Kelly saying, ‘This is what I really want.’ Last season, we got, I think, eight Chappell Roan songs,” he says.
This season, fans can expect to hear multiple Maren Morris covers and a Whitney Houston song, which Halbert says is always a “big moment” for Clarkson.
“It’s just so cool to have so much music on daytime TV,” Halbert says. “The cultural thing we’re a part of comes once in a lifetime.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelly Clarkson returns with ‘light’ to her show for Season 7
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