Kelly Clarkson has spoken candidly about why she chose to end her daytime talk show after seven seasons.
The Grammy-winning artist discussed the timing of the program’s conclusion during an interview on TODAY on Friday, explaining that she wanted to devote more time to her two children following the death of their father, her former husband Brandon Blackstock.
Clarkson told Carson Daly that family circumstances shifted in a way that made her reassess her schedule. She said that once life’s fragility becomes more apparent — especially when you have kids — priorities change and being constantly busy no longer feels right.
She and Blackstock were parents to daughter River Rose, now 11, and son Remy, 9. Blackstock died in August 2025 after a battle with melanoma.
Clarifying that she wasn’t simply walking away from work entirely, Clarkson noted she still has other professional commitments, but the workload had become too much. She decided it was time to step back from the daily talk-show grind to focus on home life.
Even though she felt certain about the choice, Clarkson admitted it wasn’t easy to pull the plug. She emphasized how close she is to the people who make the show happen and how much she values the crew. The show, she said, wasn’t struggling — in fact everything was going well — which made the decision emotionally difficult but necessary for her role as a mother.
Earlier this month, Clarkson announced that The Kelly Clarkson Show would wrap after its seventh season, explaining on social media that she needed to “prioritize” her children.
In her post, she reflected on her good fortune in working with a remarkable team in both Los Angeles and New York over the years, and she celebrated the many memorable moments the program produced during its run.
She expressed deep appreciation for the band, the production crew, and all the guests and collaborators who shared their stories and talents on the show, calling them some of the best people she could have hoped to work with.
Thanking the audience for supporting the NBC series since its launch in 2019, Clarkson acknowledged that the decision to end the show had been difficult but that this season would be her last as host.
She was quick to point out that ending the talk show isn’t the same as leaving music or entertainment entirely. Clarkson said she’ll continue to record and perform, and that viewers might still see her occasionally on The Voice or other projects — she left open the possibility of future appearances.
Finally, she thanked fans for inviting the show into their lives for seven years, expressing gratitude for their belief and loyalty over that period.
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