Kelly Clarkson has returned to television for the seventh season of her talk show, marking her first appearance since the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. The 48-year-old talent manager passed away in August after a multi-year battle with melanoma, a form of skin cancer. The couple, who were married from 2013 to 2022, share two children: daughter River, 11, and son Remy, nine.
In her season premiere on Monday, September 29, Clarkson wore an all-black ensemble and opened with a performance of The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights' for the show's traditional Kellyoke segment. She explained her choice, saying, 'I love that song, it makes me feel good. It's a perfect song to kick us off because light has been a constant theme for us on this show since the beginning.'
Although Clarkson did not directly address her ex-husband's death, she acknowledged the challenges of recent times. 'We have seen a lot in the past six years, and sometimes the world can be very heavy,' she said. 'My favourite part of doing this job is finding the light and shining it on people who are really trying to make a difference.' The episode also featured a segment honouring heroes from search and rescue missions during the Texas Hill Country floods, which claimed over 100 lives.
Music director Jason Halbert, a fellow Texas native, described the taping as 'emotional for all of us.' He noted that Clarkson's song choices may reflect personal feelings she does not discuss openly. 'You're going to see some songs reflect things that maybe she wouldn't talk about verbally in a sitting on the couch interview,' he said.
Brandon Blackstock's death was announced on August 7, with his family requesting privacy. Clarkson had issued a rare statement the day before, postponing Las Vegas residency shows to be 'fully present' for her children during their father's illness.
