Kelly Clarkson just filmed the premiere episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show for Season 7, airing at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
The episode taped on Monday (September 29) in New York City, and fans in attendance revealed what she did for her first show back following the tragic news of the death of her ex, Brandon Blackstock.
Keep reading to find out more…
Kelly‘s theme for the new season is “light,” per USA Today, and for her first “Kellyoke,” she performed The Weeknd‘s “Blinding Lights.”
Fans also noted that she did not mention Brandon‘s death in the episode.
For the interview segment, she spoke with A Big Bold Beautiful Journey co-stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell. She later welcomed several heroes who saved lives during the Texas Hill Country floods.
“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,” per the report.
Her longtime collaborator and music director, Jason Halbert, said it 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 the outlet.
“A lot happened for us all in the last year, on personal and career levels. You’re going to see some songs reflect things that maybe she wouldn’t talk about verbally in a sitting on the couch interview,” he added of some of the future “Kellyoke” selections.
“When the world is dark or heavy, look for the light,” showrunner Alex Duda told USA Today. “We wanted to reaffirm that in our premiere this year.”
Reba McEntire recently gave an update about how the kids are doing since his passing.
Source: justjared.com