Insiders close to the singer and talk show host suggest that her personal journey, particularly the challenges she’s faced over the past few years, may be prompting a shift in priorities.
The 43-year-old Emmy-winning host reportedly had a “moment of clarity” during her recent unannounced break from The Kelly Clarkson Show, which paused production between March 3 and March 18.
A source who claims to have worked closely with Clarkson told Page Six, “This has all been very painful for her. The difficulty is that Kelly, like all of us, wants to be liked, and she has to deal with this new moment in her life. She knew she had to step down for a minute.”
Though the exact reason for the hiatus remains undisclosed, the insider noted that Clarkson’s time away gave her much-needed space to reflect.
“She has her priorities, and her family comes first, but I think she’s been humbled by the whole situation… what has happened has given her a moment of clarity, I think,” the source added.
Clarkson shares two children—River, 10, and Remy, 9—with Blackstock, who also served as her manager. Their highly publicized divorce left a lasting impact on the artist, both personally and professionally.
A reported friend of Clarkson shared, “Kelly grew up without a father, and she had an incredible love story with Brandon. She is a compassionate and caring person, and what has happened [recently] has helped her to move beyond the divorce.”
During her break, celebrity guest hosts including Andy Cohen, Wanda Sykes, and Brooke Shields stepped in to lead the show. Clarkson returned on March 20 for the program’s 1000th episode, where she became visibly emotional.
“We’ve created a community and supported each other through a lot of ups and downs… A lot of ups and downs personally as well,” she told the audience.
While she hasn’t released new music in nearly two years, Clarkson hinted at a renewed passion for singing during a May 9 concert in Atlantic City.
“We haven’t done a [singing] show in a while, y’all, ‘cause I have a talk show. It’s like a whole other job,” she said. “We are bummed ‘cause we love doing [singing] shows, and it’s hard to fit it in.”
With her new music label, High Road Records, launched in 2024 and her Las Vegas residency, Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, kicking off July 4, music appears to be pulling her back.
Though her NBC talk show contract runs through 2026, those close to Clarkson suggest that family and her love for music may ultimately guide her next steps.