She has been holding down the daytime fort for seven seasons, and now Kelly Clarkson might just be ready to pass the mic.
Rumors are swirling louder than ever that the original American Idol and Since U Been Gone powerhouse is considering ending The Kelly Clarkson Show after this season. Multiple reports from Page Six, ET, and Daily Mail have cited anonymous insiders who claim Clarkson has one foot out the door and may be looking to wrap the show while it is still riding high. NBC has yet to confirm anything, but fans and staff alike are bracing for a possible goodbye.
“She loves her talk show but it is on the bottom of her list of things she would like to continue doing,” one insider told Daily Mail. “She wants to be with her family more. Everyone wants her to stay but she just wants something different.”
And honestly, you cannot blame her. The last few years have tested Clarkson in more ways than one. From the brutal and headline-grabbing divorce with Brandon Blackstock to his unexpected passing in August 2025 after a private three-year cancer battle, Clarkson’s personal life has been through the wringer. She paused her Vegas residency just a day before his death and told fans she wanted to be fully present for her two kids, River and Remy.
That has been her throughline. No matter the stage, show, or season, Kelly Clarkson puts her kids first. And right now, that may mean stepping back from the relentless pace of daytime television.
Behind the scenes, her staff only has good things to say. Crew members have told outlets that she knows everyone’s name, checks in on their families, and treats the team like more than just coworkers. “I hope it doesn’t end because I would miss Kelly a lot,” one crew member shared.
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But others say the vibe has shifted. With her contract set to expire this year, there is a sense that this could be the final lap. While some fans speculated that Hoda Kotb might be tapped as a replacement, Kotb shut that rumor down fast on TODAY and said she is not going anywhere.
So what is next for Clarkson if the show wraps? That is the big question. She is already back in music mode. In May 2025, she dropped a new single, Where Have You Been, and lit up the TODAY Show summer concert series. After the deeply personal Chemistry album and her soul-searching post-divorce phase, the new era might be more grounded and more joyful and maybe a little more country.
She is also set to return as a coach on The Voice for Season 29 and will continue balancing her love of music and mentorship. But make no mistake, whatever Clarkson does next will be on her terms. She has earned that.
Kelly Clarkson does not need daytime television to stay relevant. She is one of the few artists who can jump from talk show to chart-topper without missing a beat. And whether she signs a new contract or takes a break or goes all in on the next music chapter, her fans will be ready.
Because at the end of the day, Kelly Clarkson built her empire on authenticity and resilience, and that jaw-dropping voice. If this really is her swan song in daytime, she will leave like she does everything else with power and grace and no regrets.
