Kelly Clarkson‘s bid to leave her talk show and not renew her lucrative NBC contract has led to erratic outbursts on set, the Daily Mail understands.
The 43-year-old has made it clear she is unhappy with how her daytime slot has taken over her life and is interrupting her music career.
Every indication is that the Miss Independent songstress his heading for the exit when her contract is up in 2026, but one unresolved issue has her in a panic.
Insiders have told Daily Mail she is most concerned about hundreds of staff losing their jobs if she does not renew a deal said to be worth almost $13million.
Tensions on set and questions about Clarkson’s future have forced employees to always start looking for other roles.
But the former American Idol winner fears loyal staffers who stay behind when she leaves may be forced out.
Two different staffers on the Kelly Clarkson show including a producer say she is ‘tormented’ by the decision that could impact 100 employees.
‘She’s made it very clear that she doesn’t want her decisions to affect all of our livelihoods… but it’s a bit late for that now.’
‘I get that she’s conflicted,’ the staffer continues, ‘but when she says things publicly, it makes the public feel like she doesn’t want to be here. And if she doesn’t want to be here, why should they tune in?’
Clarkson has had meetings with high-level producers to discuss the show’s future.
‘She was emotional,’ says the staffer. ‘She was worried about the staff and had a bit of a breakdown about it.’
The Grammy winner, who has not released a new album in nearly two years, was notably absent from her show for several episodes in March, prompting producers to replace her with guest hosts. When she returned to work, she gave no explanation for the absence.
Clarkson has said publicly that she wants to return to her musical roots.
Clarkson (in concert on May 9) complained about HR at her show and said it was a ‘bummer’ that she couldn’t perform more
Clarkson (with Olivia Munn) has had fun doing her talk show, according to insiders, but feels like it is time to move on
Clarkson is said to be trying to spend more time with her two children
‘We haven’t done a [singing] show in a while, y’all, cause I have a talk show,’ she said at an Atlantic City concert on May 9. ‘It’s like a whole other job.’
‘We are bummed ’cause we love doing [singing] shows, and it’s hard to fit it in,’ she told the crowd.
But she didn’t stop there.
After a fan told her she looked ‘sexy’ up on stage, the mom of two confessed that she often feels frustrated with having to keep similar compliments to herself at work.
‘Every time I go to an HR meeting, I’m like, “How have I not been fired?”… they say you’re not allowed to say someone looks attractive, and I say f**k that,’ she said.
‘Because some of those bitches are out here working, and we’re trying, and I want every motherf****r that passes me to go, “Damn. Well done”,’ she added, in reference to her recent weight-loss transformation.
And Clarkson has signed up for new opportunities that take her beyond her show.
The hitmaker launched her own music label, High Road Records, in 2024. She will kick off a Las Vegas residency, Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, on July 4 through August 16, and November 7 through 15.
While staffers tell the Daily Mail that Clarkson is an affable and pleasant boss, they also say that her recent actions have put their jobs in jeopardy.
Hoda Kotb had been named as a possible replacement for Clarkson, but she recently said she does not want the job
Clarkson is back at work – for now
‘I cringed when I heard her comments,’ says the staffer. ‘It’s just not a good look, you know? You don’t want the person whose name is on the show to be trashing the show. Some things just need to be family business.’
‘I know that Kelly is worried that she has lost the respect of her team,’ the insider continues. ‘I don’t know that it’s that black and white. There’s nuance there.’
‘Everyone understands that she’s gone through some things, and we’re all very sympathetic.
‘But if she wants to keep our goodwill, she needs to not trash the show, and give us plenty of notice if she decides to bail. That would be the decent thing to do.’
Reps for the Kelly Clarkson show did not return a request for comment.
