Let me tell you, things were a little rocky behind the scenes at The Kelly Clarkson Show earlier this year. I was hearing from sources that the staff was really frustrated, describing Kelly as unreliable and saying she seemed disengaged from the show. It was definitely a difficult time for everyone involved, and word got around that morale was pretty low.
According to one employee, things got so discouraging that people even started reviewing each other’s resumes.
According to one staff member, rumors were circulating in the media that Kelly was planning to leave her position and Hoda Kotb would take her place.
We were all quietly looking for new opportunities. We shared job postings and helped each other network, because many of us were prepared to leave. While we liked Hoda, there was a lot of uncertainty about the future of our jobs and whether we’d even have positions to return to.
Things got particularly tense when Clarkson, 43, vanished for several days in March.
During her absence, other celebrities including Brooke Shields filled in as guest host.
Staff members were just informed that Clarkson was dealing with a ‘family emergency,’ and weren’t given any details or an estimated return date.
After taking ten episodes off, Kelly Clarkson returned to work, but things had definitely shifted. Her team noticed a real change – the Kelly who used to be so involved, remembering everyone’s families and really connecting with the staff, seemed much more distant and reserved. It was like the warmth and personal touch we all loved had faded a bit, and it was noticeable.
The staff member explained that her behavior had changed dramatically, and it was difficult for colleagues not to feel hurt or take it personally. They wondered if they had done something to offend her and cause her to suddenly start ignoring them.
The answer came in August with the unexpected death of Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and the father of her two children. He passed away at the age of 48 after a two-year fight with cancer.
Blackstock and Clarkson separated in 2022, and he had been dealing with health problems privately, leaving Clarkson to cope with that difficult news on her own.
The staffer explained, ‘Everything suddenly clicked for us, and we realized how wrong we’d been. We felt terrible for judging Kelly so quickly. We hadn’t understood what she was dealing with, and we’d been too focused on ourselves. It really taught us a lesson about not jumping to conclusions – you just never know the full story.’
After a ten-episode break, Clarkson faced further negative publicity in July when she had to suddenly cancel a show in Las Vegas only ninety minutes before it was scheduled to begin.
Oh my god, I was so heartbroken when Kelly Clarkson announced she had to postpone the shows! She said she was absolutely devastated, and explained her voice was just…not cooperating. She promised us she wouldn’t cancel, just postpone – which is a little relief, honestly, because I already had my tickets and I need to see her! I just hope she gets better soon, I’m already counting down the days until the rescheduled dates are announced!
Just like her TV crew, the audience at her concerts didn’t know what she was going through personally. Kelly Clarkson only told fans she was ‘devastated,’ explaining her voice wasn’t working and that she needed to reschedule the shows.
The first sign of Blackstock’s illness came just before his death was made public. On August 6th, Clarkson cancelled the rest of her Las Vegas shows, explaining in a statement that her children’s father had been unwell for the past year and she needed to focus on supporting her family during this time.
Blackstock’s family announced his passing the following day.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock, who previously worked as her manager and is the stepson of Reba McEntire, share two children: 11-year-old River Rose and 9-year-old Remington Alexander.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock divorced in 2022 following a very public separation, stating they had differences that couldn’t be resolved. For a year prior, Clarkson had been paying Blackstock $115,000 each month in spousal support and an additional $45,000 for child support.
While Kelly Clarkson hasn’t spoken publicly about Brandon Blackstock’s passing, reports indicate she had already begun a relationship with her former assistant, Brittney Marie Jones, before his death.
The online obituary for Blackstock mentioned Jones as his ‘loving partner’ and shared that they were creating a new life together in Montana.
After three months, and appearing again on the Kelly Clarkson Show, sources say Kelly is starting to feel like her old self again following her divorce from Brandon Blackstock.
Our inside source told us she’s become much more outgoing again. She’s been stopping by to chat with everyone – asking about their families, sharing gossip, and telling jokes. It’s like we’ve gotten the old Kelly back, and we’ve really missed her.
The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Clarkson and NBC for comment.
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2025-11-13 00:19