Kelly Clarkson is gearing up for the ‘next phase’ after completing her eponymous show after seven years.
“After years of an intense daily schedule, she’s excited to move at a different pace and have more flexibility to spend time with her kids without being tied down to the structure of a daily show,” a source told People on Wednesday.
Her departure from the show will give her “more space to be present at home” with her two children (River Rose, 11, and Remington, 9) while “continuing to do the creative work that I love.”
The source also claimed that Clarkson, 43, “still wants to make and perform music and is open to taking part in any projects he likes, but nothing that requires consistent daily effort.”
“For her, the next step is all about balance,” the source said.
On Jan. 19, Page Six exclusively revealed that the singer will be exiting “The Kelly Clarkson Show” after this season.
One source said it was “certain” that she would leave the facility during the day, while another said it was “likely not to last.”
“[Her show]has a lot of work to do, and when you look at the landscape of daytime TV, it’s no longer sustainable,” the source said.
By February 2, Clarkson confirmed her departure by posting a lengthy message on social media.
“I was so lucky to work with such a great group of people on The Kelly Clarkson Show in Los Angeles and New York,” she wrote on Instagram.
“There have been so many great moments and shows throughout these seven seasons.”
The Grammy winner went on to say that he is “forever grateful and honored to have worked with the best band and crew you could hope for,” as well as “all the talented and inspiring people who have shared their time and lives with us.”
Clarkson also praised all the fans who have “supported our show” since it first aired in 2019 and thanked NBC for being “always supportive and a great partner.”
“This was not an easy decision to make, but this will be my last season hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show,” she continued.
The “Because of You” singer echoed People magazine’s sources that “stepping back” from the show will allow her to prioritize her children, saying it “feels necessary and right for the next chapter of our lives.”
Clarkson concluded his message by acknowledging that although he will be leaving the daytime talk show after this season, “this is not a farewell.”
“I’m still going to make music and do shows here and there, and you might see me on ‘The Voice’ every once in a while…I don’t know where I’m going to show up next,” she noted.
“But right now, we just want to thank you all so much for making our show a part of your lives, and for believing in us and sticking with us for seven incredible years,” Clarkson concluded.
Rumors that Clarkson was quitting the show have been circulating since last year, when industry insiders claimed he would leave when his contract expired.
“Kelly’s first priority is and always will be her children,” a source told Us in April 2025. “The show is grueling. It’s hard work. I hear Kelly wants to spend more time in the South.”
Over the summer, the “Behind These Hazel Eyes” singer was forced to step down from the show after her ex-husband and father of her two, Brandon Blackstock, passed away after a long private battle with melanoma.
Clarkson is said to have left the show after a long and acrimonious legal battle to take care of her family and Blackstock, who divorced in 2022 while battling skin cancer.
