‘What’s Going On’: Fans Are ‘Worried’ for Kelly Clarkson as She Is Absent from Her Show

Since Kelly Clarkson’s widely discussed absence from her show, several prominent figures in Hollywood have stepped in as guest hosts. One temporary host garnered mixed reviews from online viewers.

Musical star and beloved talk show host Kelly Clarkson has been noticeably absent from “The Kelly Clarkson Show.” Her absence has sparked concern from her fans, who are wondering what has been going on and hoping that the star is ok.

At the beginning of last week, Hollywood star Simu Liu took over “The Kelly Clarkson Show” as a guest host, bringing his signature charm and energy to the stage.

Dressed casually yet stylishly in a brown leather jacket over a light-colored shirt, paired with beige pants and white sneakers, Liu appeared at ease as he stepped into the unexpected role.

Despite his confident demeanor, the “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” actor clarified that hosting was not part of his original plans for the day.

As he greeted the audience, Liu playfully addressed the elephant in the room, “I do have a confession to make — I am not Kelly Clarkson.” The crowd erupted in laughter as he continued, acknowledging Clarkson’s absence and sending her well wishes.

He then revealed that he had only learned about his hosting duties minutes before stepping onto the stage, having originally arrived at the studio to promote his upcoming thriller, “Last Breath.”

The show’s official YouTube account hyped up Liu’s guest host duties, teasing an exciting episode featuring his “Last Breath” co-stars, Woody Harrelson and Finn Cole, who came to join Liu at a later stage.

During Liu’s introduction, the actor referred to the fact that while the circumstances of his guest host responsibilities happened abruptly, he has hosted Clarkson’s show before.

“And look, I’m not one to back down from a challenge, okay? And I did host the show about three years ago. It was a great experience. There’s a wonderful studio audience here today. So, let’s do this!” expressed Liu.

After Liu’s surprise stint as guest host, Clarkson briefly returned to her talk show. Her return appearance was for an episode that aired on March 6, 2025.

The Grammy-winning singer was back in the hosting chair, welcoming a star-studded lineup that included Jason Derulo, Nora Fatehi, and Jason Isaacs. The episode also featured a musical performance by singer-songwriter Allie X.

However, her return was short-lived. Clarkson was absent once again by the next episode that aired on March 7. This time, comedian and “The Daily Show” correspondent Roy Wood Jr. stepped in as guest host.

The episode saw him interviewing “Good Morning America” co-anchor Michael Strahan, actress Denise Richards, and her daughter, Lola Sheen, Jack Wallace, and author Brad Meltzer.

As Clarkson’s absence continued with no official explanation, the revolving door of celebrity guest hosts kept spinning.

On the March 8 episode, comedy icon Wanda Sykes took over hosting duties, bringing her signature wit and charm to the show. She sat with two of Hollywood’s biggest stars — comedian Kevin Hart and singer-actor Josh Groban.

A few days later, on March 11, actress and model Brooke Shields took the reins as the next guest host. Shields led a packed episode, welcoming music legend Smokey Robinson, “Bridgerton” star Simone Ashley, and “After” franchise lead Hero Fiennes Tiffin.

She also chatted with famed dermatologist Dr. Sandra Lee — better known as “Dr. Pimple Popper” — and WWE star Liv Morgan, offering fans a mix of entertainment, skincare tips, and sports energy.

By midweek, the guest-hosting streak showed no signs of slowing down. On Wednesday, famous journalist Willie Geist took over “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” bringing his signature polished presence to the stage.

The episode featured an exciting lineup of guests, including “Black Bag” stars Michael Fassbender and Regé-Jean Page.

Adding even more star power to the show, Geist welcomed a group of recent reality TV champions — the winners of “The Traitors” — Gabby Windey, Dylan Efron, Lord Ivar Mountbatten, and Dolores Catania.

The episode also featured surprise cameos from singer and well-known media personality, Marc Broussard, who delighted the audience with his beloved golden retrievers.

Despite the rotating roster of celebrity hosts keeping the energy high, Clarkson’s continued absence remained a hot topic online, leaving fans questioning her whereabouts and expressing concern.

“Low key worried about Kelly Clarkson. Hope everything’s ok,” penned a supporter on X, who accompanied their message with a comical gif of the absent host. Another echoed a similar sentiment, “What’s going on with Kelly Clarkson??”

Others offered possible explanations, assuming that Clarkson might be dealing with a private matter. “Im sure its a personal Family emergency. We all have those. She’ll be back when shes ready! Hugs and Blessings Kelly [sic],” suggested one commenter.

Someone else hoped it was nothing more than a much-needed pause, saying, “Hopefully she is ok, maybe she just needs a break and some down time [sic].”

Several fans speculated that Kelly Clarkson might have stepped away to take a well-earned break from her demanding schedule. Some theorized that she might have taken time off to be with her family, and one Facebooker extended their prayers to her and her family.

Despite the mixed theories, one thing is clear — Clarkson’s absence has not gone unnoticed, and her loyal viewers are eagerly awaiting her return. “Love to watch her show! I really miss her and hope she is alright!” shared one devoted fan, summing the collective feelings of many.

While fans continue to speculate about Clarkson’s ongoing absence, the show pressed forward with yet another guest host stepping in to keep things running. Today, March 13, actress and model Molly Sims takes over hosting duties, bringing a fresh energy to the stage.

Sims led an emotional and uplifting episode, welcoming famous actors Patrick Schwarzenegger and Bryan Greenberg.

The episode also includes a heartfelt turn as she highlights the work of Friends of Karen, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. A family helped by the organization joins Sims on the show.

Despite fans’ hopes for her return, Clarkson remains absent from her talk show, with the latest episode schedule confirming that guest hosts will continue to fill in for the rest of the week.

Following Sims’ guest-hosting duties today, she is set to return on Friday, March 15, to lead another episode featuring actress Amanda Seyfried, singer-songwriter Nicholas Pinnock, and musical group Sir Woman.

While Clarkson’s prolonged absence has sparked widespread speculation, recent reports suggest no reason for alarm. According to TMZ, sources close to the star insist that she is completely fine and has been dealing with a personal matter unrelated to her health.

Though no further details were shared, the outlet reports that Clarkson is expected to return to the show soon.

Meanwhile, ET offered a slightly different perspective, citing a source who claimed Clarkson stepped away due to a sudden family emergency. The report noted that her absence spanned at least nine tapings, and guests were not informed ahead of time.

Instead, visiting celebrities were reportedly given the option to step in as guest hosts upon arrival. Despite the uncertainty, ET also stated that Clarkson was scheduled to resume taping today (March 13) and would be present for the milestone 1,000th episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”

For now, Clarkson’s absence remains an unsolved mystery, but with her name still missing from the latest episode lineup, viewers remain eager for official confirmation that she’ll soon be back in the hosting chair.

Until then, guest hosts continue to tackle her hosting duties. Unfortunately, one of them had rubbed some online spectators the wrong way.

During Shields’ interview with actress Eiza González, Shields’ hosting style drew mixed reactions. While some viewers found her engaging, others felt she overshadowed her guest.

During the conversation, González referenced her outfit while speaking to Shields, “By the way, I wore this for you,” drawing attention to her white fitted turtleneck sweater, light blue lace peplum overlay, and beige pants.

The “Ambulance” talent continued, “What does it look like?” hinting at the resemblance. Shields quickly made the connection, asking, “My outfit in ‘Blue Lagoon’?” The audience laughed as González confirmed it was inspired by the classic movie.

Shields, clearly flattered by the “Baby Driver” star’s stylish tribute, responded with surprise, “Really?!” González agreed, admitting she couldn’t replicate the iconic hair and joking that she used fake fabric as a substitute.

Shields then reminisced about the 1980 film, jokingly comparing González’s version to her own on-screen wardrobe. “Oh my gosh, that was a lot more covered than I was,” she said.

She then revealed a behind-the-scenes detail about her iconic look in the film, “And that hair was taped to my body, by the way.” González reacted with curiosity, prompting Shields to nod and add, “Yeah, they had to tape it to my boobs because if the wind blew, it was like, ‘Woo!'”

González laughed, responding, “Yeah, yeah, you’re like, ‘None of that.'” Shields concluded, “There wasn’t much. Wasn’t much there.”

The lighthearted exchange drew laughter from the audience, but some felt Shields shifted the focus away from the “3 Body Problem” actress. Many viewers took to social media to voice their opinions on Shields’ hosting style.

One person remarked, “The poor guests can’t get a word in edgewise. Brooke interrupts them to talk about her own movies. It’s cringy and rude. I’ve never seen anything like it. We get it Brooke, you’ve been a movie star since you were 9, now can we hear what the guests are saying???? 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🙄”

Similarly, another viewer criticized Shields’ hosting abilities, calling her “unnatural” and claiming she struggled to read the cue cards.

However, not everyone was critical. Some viewers enjoyed Shields’ presence, “You did an amazing job on Kelly 2day!!! Loved the show ❤️ [sic].”

A different viewer expressed admiration for Shields’ humor and hosting skills, adding that they share almost the same birthday, while another praised her for excelling as both a host and a businesswoman.

Meanwhile, Clarkson’s absence remained a concern for some. One curious fan questioned, “Will she come back not watching till Kelly comes back sad no one saying what’s going on [sic].”

Another hoped she was doing well, while someone suggested that if guest hosting continues, the show’s producers should let band members have a turn.