Kelly Clarkson staffers claim 'personal issue' caused talk show absence as they sense 'weird vibe' on set
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kelly Clarkson has made her return to 'The Kelly Clarkson Show' after a weeks-long hiatus, but staff members believe something is off.
The worries surrounding the singer-turned-talk-show host began after she missed ten full episodes of her show. While there has been no official explanation for her absence, rumors are circulating that personal matters may be behind her unexpected break.
Kelly Clarkson's employees sense a 'weird vibe' on set
After Kelly Clarkson celebrated her 1,000th episode of 'The Kelly Clarkson Show', where she addressed personal struggles, insiders told the Daily Mail that employees have noticed a significant shift in her behavior since returning to work.
In the past, Clarkson was known for regularly chatting with staff off-camera about their lives, families, and even apologizing for distracting them from their work. However, those interactions have reportedly come to a halt.
One employee who has worked on the show for over a year recalled, "She used to be so accessible. She'd stand at your desk and just talk. Ask about your life. She knows the names of everyone's husbands and kids and would ask about them by name."
They added, "She'd talk and talk, and then she'd suddenly apologize for taking you away from your work. I was always like, ‘You're the boss; you don't need to apologize,’ and she'd laugh."
Since her return, Clarkson has been more isolated, surrounded by handlers who keep her away from staff and help shield her from questions about her recent absence.
The tipster continued, "It's just a very weird vibe now, and no one has any idea what's going on. It's really unsettling. It's not knowing that really makes things hard for everyone. When you don't know what's going on, you just assume the worst. That's human nature."
Kelly Clarkson's employees are 'walking on eggshells' amid shifts in her behavior
Another employee confirmed that while the show’s 100-plus staff are feeling nervous, they’ve been regularly reassured that their jobs are safe and no one is facing layoffs.
The second staff member added, "We’re all walking on eggshells because there aren’t many answers. But we’ve been told that our jobs are secure and that Kelly will return full-time. It’s a personal issue that’s being worked through, and everything will be back to normal soon. They’ve assured us that the show will continue and we’ll all be fine."
No matter what, her team remains supportive.
A third staffer expressed, "There’s definitely a lot of concern. Kelly is really loved here. She’s always been so upbeat and friendly."
"It’s very obvious something’s been different for the past month, but we don’t know what it is. I’m worried about my job, of course, but I’m also concerned for her. I just want the best for her," they concluded.
The past few years have been rough for Kelly Clarkson
A source close to Kelly Clarkson revealed that the past few years have been particularly challenging for the singer, especially after her bitter divorce from her husband of nine years, Brandon Blackstock, in 2022.
"When she started the show, her marriage to Brandon was crumbling," an insider shared. "She felt broken and alone because she could not share the joy of her show with her husband, and that was heartbreaking. She was never alone at work, but when she clocked out at the end of the day, it was just her - a single mom - at home."
Although the 'Because of You' hitmaker's team remains tight-lipped about the specifics of her personal struggles, sources say she is now on the path to recovery.
"Kelly is looking forward to another 1,000 shows after this current milestone. And going into this new stage in her career and life, she is going to enjoy it even more. It has been a rough go the last few years personally, but she is turning the corner," another tipster said.
