Kelly Clarkson says The Voice Season 23 was “me saying bye” to the show
Fans may not have realized it at the time, but Season 23 of The Voice last spring was not only a farewell for long-time coach Blake Shelton — it also appears to have been Kelly Clarkson’s final season on the show for the foreseeable future. Clarkson has explained that her move to New York City to tape The Kelly Clarkson Show at 30 Rock made it impractical to continue coaching on the NBC singing competition, which films in Universal City in Los Angeles.
Clarkson told USA Today that the logistics of traveling back and forth across the country, combined with family responsibilities and personal struggles over recent years, led her to step away. “Full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life,” she said. She added that after learning her limits, she recognized that Season 23 was essentially her way of saying goodbye to the show while she managed a major relocation and changes at home.
“I feel like a weight has lifted. That move was very needed”
Reflecting on her current priorities, Clarkson described a renewed sense of balance. “I am in such a great place, not only with my kids, but with me personally and with the show,” she said. She called the move to New York necessary and freeing. “I feel like a weight has lifted. That move was very needed. The thing I’m most excited about, on a selfish level, is showing up to work smiling and actually meaning it. That’s a beautiful gift you don’t realize until you’re out of it.”
Her comments underline how demanding it had been to maintain simultaneous careers on opposite coasts. The proximity of The Kelly Clarkson Show’s former Los Angeles production made short trips manageable, but living across the country changed that reality. With young children and a new daily talk-show schedule, Clarkson said she had to prioritize her family and mental well-being.
Clarkson’s relationship with The Voice has been long and varied. She first appeared as a Battle Advisor in Season 2, returned as a key advisor in Season 13, and joined the coaching panel in Season 14. She continued as a coach through Season 21 and returned for Season 23, making a lasting impact on the series during her tenure.
As of now, The Voice Season 24 is airing on NBC with coaches Niall Horan, Gwen Stefani, John Legend and Reba McEntire. Season 25 has reportedly completed much of its filming and is slated to air in spring 2024, featuring Reba and John returning, with Chance the Rapper and country duo Dan + Shay sharing a single coaching chair as a duo.
Could Kelly return to American Idol?
While Clarkson appears to be stepping away from a full-time coaching role on The Voice, she has not closed the door on future appearances in music competition formats. She could choose to return as an advisor, make guest performances, or visit other shows as her schedule allows. Ending her regular association with The Voice also removes a conflict that might have prevented appearances on other programs, such as American Idol, where she first rose to national prominence as a performer.
Practical considerations factor into any potential return: her children’s ages, her commitments to The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the projects she wants to promote. For now, though, Clarkson’s focus is on her family and her talk show, and she seems content with the decision to prioritize her well-being over balancing competing coast-to-coast commitments.
The Kelly Clarkson Show’s new season premiered on Monday, October 16, and Clarkson says she’s looking forward to continuing that work with a clearer headspace and more time for her family — an outcome she describes as both necessary and welcome after years of juggling multiple demanding roles.