Kelly Clarkson has been a mainstay on daytime TV since 2019, and after filming more than 1,000 episodes, rumors are swirling that she is ready to step away. The original American Idol has not spoke out about her future on the show, but her recent unexplained absence has been cause for speculation. Here's what we know about the future of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
According to Page Six, Kelly's contract with NBC is up next year, and she's ready to be finished with her obligations to spend more time with her kids, River and Remy. An "industry insider" said, "Kelly’s No. 1 priority is her children, and they always will be. The show is grueling. It’s a whole lot of work and I hear that Kelly would like to spend more time down South."
Other rumors have surfaced about Kelly replacing Hoda Kotb on TODAY with Jenna & Friends, but that seems to be unfounded. Page Six reports that their source said that doesn't seem likely: "If she wants to spend more time with her kids, she certainly wouldn’t get that [at ‘Today’] and she’s never even guest co-hosted [‘Today With Jenna and Friends’]."
Kelly and the show moved to New York in 2023, and the Texas native has been vocal about her love for the city. Still, she enjoys getting away from it all and spending time at her Montana ranch. She told Kylie Kelce on her Not Gonna Lie podcast that she was recently in her small town recording new music and filming a music video.
The show continues to be successful, bringing in more than 1.2 million viewers a day in 2024. So, while the future is uncertain, we know that Kelly will be on daytime TV at least for a little while, as her contract extends through the 2025/2026 season. If you want to catch her in person, you can get request tickets to an upcoming filming at NBC Studios in 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. Dates are available through the end of May.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
