Kelly Clarkson is offering fans a closer look at what makes her such a relatable host on The Kelly Clarkson Show, which returns for its sixth season on September 23. The American Idol alum recently spoke about her ability to connect with guests and audiences by being open and vulnerable.
In an interview with E! News cohost Keltie Knight, Kelly shared that being vulnerable isn’t difficult for her personally. However, when it comes to sharing stories that involve others, including her children, she treads carefully. “It’s not hard for me to be vulnerable as a person,” she said. “But when it involves other people’s lives, that’s when it’s hard. You have to navigate that line of, ‘Wait, is that OK?’ or ‘Can I talk about my kid with this?’”
Kelly, who shares two children—River Rose, 9, and Remington Alexander, 7—with her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, also reflected on how her personal experiences, including her 2020 divorce, influence what she shares publicly. While she’s comfortable discussing her own heartbreak, she’s mindful of others who might be involved. “It’s not that I’m not comfortable talking about it,” she explained. “It’s just I don’t if other people are involved.”
Kelly’s divorce from Blackstock after nearly seven years of marriage deeply impacted her, and it became a major influence on her 2023 album Chemistry. In an interview with People, she expressed gratitude for music as a healthy outlet during a difficult time. “The level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard,” she said. “It’s a blessing to have that outlet for emotions that are overwhelming.”
While Kelly’s vulnerability is a key part of her appeal, she believes her down-to-earth nature is what truly connects her with audiences. “I think I’m more normal than not,” she told E!. “I think that’s what people gravitate towards. I’m not that different from everybody that you might know.”
For Kelly, there’s a universality in the human experience that binds everyone together. “We’re all similar,” she shared. “We all have parts where we love to showcase our talent, but we also have those parts where we love to listen and learn. We have those parts where we want to be a little more comedic and lighthearted.”
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