Why Isn’t Kelly Clarkson on Her Show? What We Know About the Singer’s Absence

Kelly Clarkson has been absent from The Kelly Clarkson Show for nearly a week — and viewers are wondering why.

The “Since U Been Gone” singer first unexpectedly missed a March 3 taping. At the last minute, actor Simu Liu, who had previously led the daytime talk show for Clarkson in 2022, agreed to pivot from guest to host.

“Kelly isn’t able to make it today. We’re sending her our very best,” he told the audience. “I did not know that I was doing this until about five minutes ago when I arrived to promote my new movie Last Breath.”

Simu added, “I’m here now, and look, I’m not one to back down from a challenge.”

Clarkson didn’t address the shakeup when she returned on March 4, but the next day, she was notably absent again, and several celebrities have since taken over hosting duties.

So what’s going on with The Kelly Clarkson Show? Here’s everything to know about Kelly Clarkson’s extended absence as host.

When was the last time Kelly Clarkson appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show?

Clarkson last appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show on March 5. She hosted several guests, including singers Jason Derulo and Nora Fatehi, who were promoting their musical collaboration “Snake.”

The American Idol alum also spoke with Jason Isaacs about The White Lotus season 3 and introduced Canadian singer Allie X who performed her single “Black Eye.”

Who is hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show?

In Clarkson’s absence, several celebrity guest hosts have taken the lead on The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Comedian Roy Wood Jr. stepped in for Clarkson on March 6 after guest hosting on Feb. 28, 2025.

“Kelly’s out for the day,” he said. “I’m back. You’re in good hands. I was here about a week ago, I think they brought me back because of my resemblance to Kelly. You need to squint to see it, though.”

Actress Wanda Sykes and singer Josh Groban co-hosted the March 7 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

The Upshaws star mentioned Clarkson’s absence briefly during her opening monologue, telling the audience, “It’s good to be here at Kelly’s show. She asked if I could co-host, and I said, ‘Absolutely, Kelly. There’s nothing I’d rather be doing on my birthday than daytime TV.’ ”

On March 10, Brooke Shields took over as host and Smokey Robinson performed “Be Thankful for What You Got” during Clarkson’s Kellyoke segment.

Shields returned on March 11 and told viewers that it was “so nice” to be filling in “again” for the TV personality.

Today‘s Willie Geist was tapped as the host on March 12, while actress Molly Sims will sit in the host’s chair on March 13 and 14.

Who are the guests on The Kelly Clarkson this week?

During her two-episode stint as host on March 10 and 11, Shields welcomed Simone Ashley, Joshua Jackson and Eiza González, among others, to The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Geist’s guests on March 12 will include costars Michael Fassbender and Regé-Jean Page, who will be promoting their new film Black Bag, and the winners of The Traitors season 3 — Dylan Efron, Dolores Catania, Ivar Mountbatten and Gabby Windey.

Meanwhile, Sims will be joined on March 13 by The White Lotus season 3 star Patrick Schwarzenegger and Suits L.A. star Bryan Greenberg.

Then, on March 14, she will host costars Amanda Seyfried and Nicholas Pinnock as they promote their Peacock series Long Bright River.

Where is Kelly Clarkson?

Clarkson hasn’t publicly addressed her absence from The Kelly Clarkson Show. However, this isn’t the first time the daytime host has taken an extended leave from work.

In 2022, she spent the entire summer in Montana with her kids.

“It was really important to me to shut down for a minute,” Clarkson said on the Today show in August of that year. “[We] just spent the whole summer in the mountains. It was nice.”

She added, “It felt like the first time my kids felt a little more centered as well.”

Clarkson is also gearing up for her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Her 18-show run kicks off on July 4, 2025, and is scheduled through Nov. 15, 2025.