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Why Did Kelly Clarkson Leave ‘The Voice’? What She’s Said About Her Exit Ahead of Season 26 Performance
Fans of The Voice have been missing Kelly Clarkson ever since she left the show after season 23 in 2023. The American Idol winner was a staple on the show for five years and served as a coach for nine seasons, taking home four wins during her tenure.
Why Did Kelly Clarkson Leave ‘The Voice’?
Fans of The Voice might recall that Kelly first stepped away during season 22, and she was open about her reason for the hiatus. She simply needed a break and took the summer off from all work obligations to spend time with her kids, River Rose and Remington Alexander, whom she shares with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
After returning for season 23, Kelly stepped away from the show when she and her children moved to New York. The move came following her talk show’s move from Los Angeles to NBC’s New York City Studio in summer 2023. Since The Voice is filmed in Los Angeles, Kelly was unable to do both.
As for why Kelly opted to move to New York, she explained in May 2023 that it had to do with family.
“I talked to [my staff] because I was like, ‘Guys, I need you to know what’s happening. It’s either I’m not going to be able to continue the show or I gotta go East Coast,’” she told TalkShopLive. Kelly added that she was isolated from her family, who lives in North Carolina, during the coronavirus pandemic, which is “not good for anyone.”
Kelly also said she felt like her family “needed a fresh start” after she had “a lot of personal things going on,” possibly referring to her divorce.
In October 2023, Kelly expanded on her decision to leave the singing competition and admitted that there was more to it than just the move. “Full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life,” she told USA Today. “I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of handling, and also what you should not handle.”
At one point, there were also rumors that Kelly’s exit from The Voice in season 24 had to do with Reba, who is Kelly’s ex-stepmother-in-law after the country singer was married to Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015. However, Kelly shot down speculation that she and Reba are on bad terms after her and Brandon’s divorce.
“We were friends before Brandon and I got together,” Kelly said on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in June 2023. “We text each other all the time. [We’re] both women of sound mind that know that life doesn’t work out sometimes. … So yeah, no hard feelings there. Just feelings!”
Will Kelly Clarkson Return to ‘The Voice’?
Unfortunately, it’s possible that season 23 was Kelly’s final time coaching on The Voice. She was not a coach on seasons 24-26 and is not part of the panel for the upcoming season 27. She seemed to hint that she has no plans to return during her October 2023 interview with USA Today about her move to New York and how it improved her mental health.
“I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of handling, and also what you should not handle. That was me saying ‘bye’ to The Voice and having this big move,” Kelly said. “I love that family, but I was like, ‘I’m struggling. I can’t smile anymore. I don’t feel like smiling.’”
However, Kelly is still part of The Voice family. In May 2024, she briefly appeared on an episode of the show to celebrate its 25-season milestone. She will also be performing during the season 26 finale on December 10, 2024, singing her new holiday single, “You for Christmas.”
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