When Kelly Clarkson postponed the remaining dates scheduled for this month of her Studio Sessions Las Vegas residency, she also shed some light on a mystery that had fans befuddled this past spring.
That mystery: Where in the world is Kelly Clarkson, and why does she keep missing episodes of her television show?
In March and April, unexplained absences from The Kelly Clarkson Show left fans wondering what’s going on in the singer’s world — and rumors flew.
Clarkson is typically private about her personal life.
When she canceled her August residency dates, though, she gave fans an explanation.
Kelly Clarkson Postpones Show Dates
The singer told fans that she’s scrapping these shows to focus on her two children, 11-year-old River Rose and 9-year-old Remy Alexander, during a difficult time for their family.
“This past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she writes in her statement, which was shared via social media.
“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” Clarkson adds.
Who Is the Father of Kelly Clarkson’s Kids?
Clarkson is referring to her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, with whom she shares River and Remy.
The couple split up in 2020, and their divorce was finalized in 2022.
They have remained committed to co-parenting since, and Clarkson has occasionally spoken in interviews about her experience as a single parent and prioritizing time with her kids when they are with her.
What Illness Is Blackstock Battling?
It’s unclear. Clarkson didn’t share any further details about her ex-husband’s health issues.
This illness is presumably serious, since it requires her to take a long break from her Las Vegas residency.
Did Blackstock’s Illness Also Cause Clarkson to Miss Show Tapings Earlier This Year?
The singer hasn’t said anything about the episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show she missed beginning in spring 2025.
It’s not clear whether Blackstock’s illness was a cause for those absences, but it is certainly possible. Clarkson’s post says he’s been sick for a while now, and the timeline would line up for that to be the cause.
It would also align with some of the rumors that swirled during Clarkson’s lengthy absence from her show in March and April.
In mid-March, an anonymous source claimed that Clarkson missed taping due to a family emergency; the following month, another stated that Blackstock was sick and she took a break from the show so that their kids could visit him.
How Many Episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show Did Clarkson Miss?
Clarkson’s first absence from The Kelly Clarkson Show was on March 3, when actor Simu Liu filled in for her. She returned for the following two episodes, leading many to believe it was just a one-off event.
The singer did not inform the audience why she wasn’t present at that time.
Once again, Clarkson was missing form her chair on March 6, and it would be several days before she returned. The show featured a list of guest hosts instead.
Read More: Kelly Clarkson Misses Another Episode of Her Show, Questions Mount
Clarkson missed 10 episodes between March 3 and April 1. An absence on April 21 marked her 11th.
What Did the Rumor Mill Say About Kelly Clarkson’s Missed Tapings?
Various reports and theories emerged about Clarkson’s absences.
In addition to the rumor that Blackstock is ill — which turned out to be true — some sources said that Clarkson could be eyeing a permanent exit from the talk show after her contract ends in 2026.
Those sources claimed that NBC was eager to keep her — and The Kelly Clarkson Show — on the air.
Read More: Kelly Clarkson Reportedly Wants to Leave Her Talk Show
In May, Clarkson admitted to some frustration about her talk show’s restrictive schedule, saying she was “bummed” that she can’t play music live as much as she wants to.
There was even some buzz about who might potentially replace her, including former The Today Show host Hoda Kotb.
Read More: Could Hoda Kotb Replace Kelly Clarkson on Her Show?
Kotb herself addressed those rumors, saying it was pretty unlikely, though she hedged that by adding that she’s a “never say never” person.
In heartening news for The Kelly Clarkson Show fans, the show was renewed for a seventh season this summer, and episodes are expected to begin airing in September.
She’s planning to be back onstage for her Las Vegas residency that month, too. The Studio Sessions is expected to continue into mid-November.
10 Covers That Prove Kelly Clarkson Is a Country Queen
Kelly Clarkson has never released a full country project, but she’s still country royalty in our eyes! Here are 10 of Clarkson’s best country performances, from her twangiest Kellyoke covers to a collaboration with two of the hottest modern-day country acts.
Gallery Credit: Carena Liptak
