Kelly Clarkson Returns After Ex-Husband's Death

Kelly Clarkson returned to The Kelly Clarkson Show for its seventh season on Sept. 29, marking her first on-air appearance since the August death of her ex-husband and former manager Brandon Blackstock after a private battle with cancer. She opened the premiere with a Kellyoke cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” welcomed guests Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, and received a warm on-set reception. The episode included an emotional tribute to Central Texas first responders and a dozen bus drivers who rescued hundreds of children during deadly July flash floods, and the show presented a $100,000 donation to Kerrville ISD. Clarkson canceled remaining Las Vegas residency dates over the summer to be with her and Blackstock’s two children and has largely kept public comments about his death brief. Music director Jason Halbert and others described the taping as “super emotional,” and future performances may reflect recent personal and career events.