Kelly Clarkson’s Mysterious Absence From Talk Show Sparks Concern Among Fans

Kelly Clarkson has been noticeably absent from "The Kelly Clarkson Show" for over a week, with various celebrities stepping in to fill her hosting duties.

While the Grammy-winning singer hosted the show on March 4 and March 5, she has been mostly missing since February 27, leaving viewers speculating about her whereabouts.

According to the show's weekly listings, Clarkson is slated to return for episodes airing on March 18, March 20, and March 21. However, the extended break has led to a wave of concern among fans, especially after guest host Simu Liu admitted he was given little notice before stepping in.

“Kelly actually isn’t able to make it today,” Liu revealed on the March 3 episode. “We are sending her our very best, and here’s the thing. I did not know that I was doing this until about five minutes ago when I arrived here to promote my new movie, Last Breath.”

Prior to Liu’s appearance, comedian Roy Wood Jr. took over hosting duties on February 28 and again on March 6. Clarkson briefly returned to the show on March 4 and 5, though it remains unclear when those episodes were filmed.

Following the announcement from "The Kelly Clarkson Show" of the rotating guest hosts via Instagram, fans quickly took to the comments section to express their concern.

“Where is Kelly? We are worried sick about her,” someone asked.

“We don’t need to know her business but need to know she is OK, please,” another commented.

“I respect Kelly Clarkson’s privacy, but I am very concerned about her,” a third fan wrote.

Others, however, defended Clarkson’s right to keep her absence private.

“Hey y’all, you all need to understand this: Kelly does not owe anyone an explanation for her absence. Y’all can worry all you want, she doesn’t have to tell anyone what’s going on, IF there’s anything going on,” one user pointed out.

The lineup of guest hosts also saw Wanda Sykes and Josh Groban co-hosting on March 7, followed by Brooke Shields filling in for two consecutive days. "Sunday Today" anchor Willie Geist is set to host on Wednesday, while model Molly Sims will take over the final two episodes of the week.

Although Clarkson is expected to return for three days during the week of March 17, Kal Penn and Andy Cohen will step in for the remaining two shows.

Clarkson has yet to address her absence from "The Kelly Clarkson Show," but this isn’t the first time she has taken an extended break from work.

In 2022, she stepped away for the summer to spend quality time in Montana with her children. Reflecting on the decision during an appearance on "Today" that August, she shared, "It was really important to me to shut down for a minute. [We] just spent the whole summer in the mountains. It was nice."

She also noted that the experience had a positive impact on her children, adding, "It felt like the first time my kids felt a little more centered as well."

Beyond her talk show, Clarkson is preparing for her highly anticipated Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The 18-show run begins on July 4, 2025, and will continue through November 15, 2025.

Since its debut in 2019, "The Kelly Clarkson Show" has become a daytime TV staple, earning multiple Emmy Awards. The singer is approaching a major milestone, as the show is set to air its 1,000th episode on March 20.

When she’s not hosting, Clarkson spends time with her two children, daughter River Rose, 10, and son Remington “Remy” Alexander, 8, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from Brandon Blackstock in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was finalized in March 2022 following a lengthy legal battle over child custody, spousal support, and assets.

Since the divorce, Clarkson has been open about the emotional toll it took on her and has used music, particularly her 2023 album "Chemistry," to process the experience.