Kelly Clarkson is ending her talk show on a high note.
After seven years, the singer closed out The Kelly Clarkson Show with an hour-long series finale Monday centered on musical performances.
Clarkson, 44, became emotional several times throughout the pre-taped show before dedicating the finale performances to her 12-year-old daughter River and 10-year-old son Remy, who sat in the audience.
“My kiddos have always come first,” she said at the end of the hour-long episode. “They’re a big reason I did this show, just the stability, the schedule. And they’re also a big reason it’s time to say goodbye.”
She continued: “I’m such a proud momma. They’re the greatest kids in the world. When we started, River was in kindergarten. She’s now about to be in middle school. My son Remington, he had his singing debut on stage with the band.”
open image in galleryClarkson then asked her children what their favorite moments on the show were, with Remy saying that he liked meeting Jason Momoa and singing “My Way” with her band.
She then teared up at River’s response: “I like watching you shine every single day.”
As the audience applauded, Clarkson was visibly emotional as she said, “Oh no! That’s so sweet. Okay, you got me. You just ‘Oprah’-ed me on my own show. I love you, too,” referencing Oprah Winfrey’s famously emotional moments on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
open image in galleryThe American Idol winner announced in February that she was bringing her Emmy-winning show to an end in order to “prioritize my kids, which feels necessary and right for this chapter of our lives.”
The news came after her ex-husband and the father of her children, Brandon Blackstock, died aged 48 last August after being diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer.
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The Kelly Clarkson Show first premiered in 2019. It was originally filmed in Los Angeles before moving to New York City in 2023.
Clarkson kicked off the final episode with a cover of her “most requested” song ever: “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters.
In a twist from the beloved “Kellyoke” segment in the NBC daytime show — in which the American Idol winner covers other people’s songs with her signature belt — Clarkson took requests from audience members for songs from her own discography. She also debuted her brand new single “I’d Be Lying.”
At the end of the episode, after thanking her loved ones and her crew, Clarkson shared her signature sign-off: “Have a great day, and if it’s not, change it.”
Although her talk show run is coming to an end, Clarkson will return to TV as a judge on NBC’s singing competition show The Voice starting September 21.