Kelly Clarkson show ending in fall 2026 after seven seasons

Kelly Clarkson said her daytime talk show will wrap with the end of its current seventh season, with final episodes planned for fall 2026. The decision lands as the program remains a steady daytime performer and awards presence, making the ending less about ratings collapse and more about a deliberate pivot in a demanding, year-round format.

What was announced, and when

On Monday, February 2, 2026 (ET), Clarkson shared that she is stepping away from hosting and that the series will conclude after the current season finishes its run later this year. Production for Season 7 is expected to continue on schedule, and the show will keep airing new episodes into fall 2026.

The announcement also set expectations for the remaining months: Clarkson intends to host the bulk of what’s left, with a small number of guest-hosted episodes mixed in as the season continues.

Key takeaways

• The show is expected to finish with Season 7, with final episodes airing in fall 2026.

• Clarkson framed the move as a personal priority shift, not a sudden cancellation.

• Some guest hosts will appear during the remainder of the season.

Why Clarkson is stepping away

Clarkson described the choice as difficult and emphasized that she is prioritizing her children and family life. The talk-show schedule is famously relentless—daily prep, rehearsals, interviews, musical segments, and travel—often compressed into long taping days that repeat week after week across much of the year.

In that context, her statement reads as a reset: less about leaving television entirely and more about reclaiming time and flexibility. It also follows a stretch in recent years when Clarkson’s calendar has been unusually crowded, balancing music commitments alongside the show’s production demands.

Some aspects remain unclear at this time, including how quickly she will return to other major on-camera work after the series ends. What is clear is that her decision effectively sets an endpoint for a program built heavily around her personality, voice, and brand.

What happens to the rest of Season 7

For viewers, the short-term change is minimal. New episodes will continue, and the series is expected to finish its season with the same format: celebrity interviews, audience-friendly games, and the performance segment that became a signature of the show.

Guest hosts are expected to fill in for a limited number of episodes, a structure the show has used before. That approach helps maintain production continuity without changing the overall identity of the program during its final months.

Behind the scenes, the bigger operational question is how the show’s final stretch is packaged: whether it leans into “last season” storytelling, special guests, and retrospective moments, or whether it keeps things business-as-usual until the closing weeks. Many daytime series opt for a gradual farewell rather than a single “final episode” event, especially when episodes are taped and aired on staggered schedules.

The show’s legacy in daytime TV

Since its 2019 debut, the series built a recognizable lane in daytime: upbeat tone, music-forward energy, and a host who can credibly move between comedy, empathy, and performance. That mix helped it stand out in a crowded landscape where many talkers compete for similar celebrity guests and lifestyle segments.

It also became a consistent awards contender, earning major recognition over multiple seasons. Beyond trophies, its influence shows up in the format choices other programs adopted: tighter segments, more music integration, and a more casual, “hangout” feel.

Another hallmark has been Clarkson’s ability to convert short moments into shareable clips—performances, spontaneous jokes, or candid conversations—helping the show travel beyond the television audience into broader pop-culture circulation.

What to watch next

There are three practical things to watch between now and fall 2026.

First, timing details. “Fall 2026” can cover a wide range in daytime programming; the show’s exact final air date and whether it ends early in the season or later in the fall could shape how the farewell is framed.

Second, the slot it leaves behind. Daytime schedules are highly competitive, and a proven time period doesn’t stay open long. Whether the replacement is a new talk format, a game show, or a news-adjacent program will signal what distributors believe is working in daytime right now.

Third, Clarkson’s next professional chapter. Ending the talk show removes one of the most time-intensive commitments in entertainment, potentially opening space for touring, recording, specials, or selective hosting work. Any future plans that are not publicly confirmed should be treated cautiously for now, but the industry expectation is that a performer with her reach will not stay off screens for long—just likely on different terms.

Sources consulted: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, People