Kelly Clarkson Exit Rumors Stir Strong Reaction from Talk Show Staff

As speculation continues to swirl around Kelly Clarkson’s future with her daytime talk show, behind-the-scenes sources are reporting growing tension and emotional responses from longtime staff and crew members. For months, Clarkson has hinted at a possible shift for “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Though she hasn’t confirmed whether she plans to stay or leave, several are concerned about the outcome.

The 43-year-old singer sparked concern among fans last month after missing several episodes. Most notable was when Andy Cohen stepped in as a guest host. While Clarkson didn’t publicly explain her absence, a source claimed she wanted to take time off to focus on her children, River and Remington. She reportedly also wanted to slow down her busy schedule after working nonstop for a while. Over the years, several celebrities, including Josh Groban, Willie Geist, Molly Sims, Wanda Sykes, and Roy Wood Jr., have filled in during her time away.

Is Kelly Clarkson Leaving Her Talk Show?

Now that her contract is set to expire in 2026, speculation about her next move has intensified. This especially after her May 9 concert in Atlantic City, where she addressed the crowd about the situation. Clarkson acknowledged the difficulty of balancing touring with her talk show duties.

“We haven’t done a show in a while, y’all, ’cause I have a talk show. It’s like a whole other job,” she told the audience. “We are bummed ’cause we love doing shows, and it’s hard to fit it in, so it’s cool when it does work out with the schedule and it’s cool to get to see your faces and feed off y’all.”

While fans have expressed concern over the uncertainty, sources say staff members are feeling increasingly unsettled. This is due to the lack of clarity of the situation. According to a report from the Daily Mail, some team members feel betrayed, especially those who relocated from Los Angeles to New York City when the show moved production.

“Kelly Clarkson is ungrateful, and she fails to recognize how her staff uprooted their lives in Los Angeles and left their homes to relocate to New York because they believed in her and they loved working for her,” one insider claimed. The source added that several employees feel “disrespected” and “abandoned” due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Emmy-winning show’s future.

Who Will Replace Clarkson?

According to The New York Post, an NBC insider revealed that Hoda Kotb, who was co-host of “Today”, is among the network’s list of potential replacements should Clarkson decide to exit. “There’s a long list of names and Hoda is part of that list,” the source stated. “NBC never wanted Hoda to leave. The question is: would Hoda want to do it?”

Despite the internal tension and growing speculation, Clarkson has yet to confirm or deny any plans to leave the show. For now, both her team and her fanbase remain in limbo. Several are hoping the beloved host will choose to extend her tenure. In the meantime, the “American Idol” alum remains busy, preparing to release her ninth studio album this June under her own label. She’s also gearing up for a Las Vegas residency running July 4 through August 16, with additional shows scheduled from November 7 to 15.