Overview

• Season 7 of The Kelly Clarkson Show premiered Sept. 29, marking Clarkson’s first on‑air appearance since Brandon Blackstock died of melanoma on Aug. 7.
• Clarkson did not reference Blackstock’s death during the episode, keeping the focus on guests and planned segments.
• The premiere honored Kerrville ISD bus drivers who rescued more than 900 children during July’s Texas Hill Country floods, drawing visible emotion in the studio.
• Clarkson opened with a Kellyoke cover of The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” aligning with the show’s guiding theme of “light.”
• Music director Jason Halbert said some Kellyoke selections will reflect feelings Clarkson won’t discuss in interviews, and NBC confirmed production restarted the week of Sept. 8.