This past Friday, less than two hours before she was scheduled to perform, Kelly Clarkson canceled the opening night of her Las Vegas residency. Fans were upset, Clarkson was “devastated,” and tabloids tried to suss out what exactly was going on. Some sources from Clarkson’s Vegas show are saying that it really is just vocal stress, while others are saying that the issue is more personal. A different group is using the postponed shows to revive old gossip about the reportedly tumultuous situation at The Kelly Clarkson Show. The whole thing is a mess. Here’s what’s going on.
Why did Kelly Clarkson cancel the opening of her residency?
As she explained it, rehearsals for her show, titled Studio Sessions, had “taken a toll” on her voice. “I want the shows to be perfect for y’all and I need to protect myself from doing serious damage so I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve,” Clarkson wrote in a statement on Instagram.
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The singer promised that the show is “incredible” and that she would be back the following weekend to perform. The announcement reportedly came about 90 minutes before she was set to hit the stage, leaving people who bought tickets to the show in the lurch.
What are people saying about it?
The abrupt cancellation didn’t go over well. “The crazy part is there isn’t even an apology in this post,” one person commented under Clarkson’s post. “I love her but this is very disappointing to do last minute. Something is definitely off,” wrote another.
Over the past week, people quoted by tabloids as “insiders” aren’t all on the same page. On Tuesday, a source told “Page Six” that Clarkson was dealing with a vocal issue. “She belts out every single note. She’s an incredibly powerful singer, but it takes its toll on her vocal cords and she’s come incredibly close to needing surgery before,” they explained. “She cannot risk damaging her cords further — she’s on thin ice.”
A different source told the outlet that Clarkson’s personal life might be delaying the residency. “Kelly’s personal life is so insanely complicated … Kelly is fighting some serious hidden battles that very few people are privy to,” the person said. “It’s a source of emotional and therefore physical distress for her.” In 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce from her husband and manager, Brandon Blackstock, which she later said she “did not handle well.”
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On Wednesday, yet another source told People that the singer “didn’t want to cancel any shows” but was forced to for her vocal health. “She was devastated and felt terrible for fans that had traveled to see her,” the person said. “She’s been very excited about the Las Vegas residency and connecting with her fans.”
That same day, someone claiming to work on Clarkson’s talk show had some less kind things to say to the Daily Mail. “I love Kelly dearly,” the anonymous employee said, “but the whiplash is a lot with her right now.”
“She’s all in on the talk show, then she’s not, then she is again … She’s performing in Vegas, now she’s not. It’s her voice. It’s personal issues. It’s enough to make you crazy,” the person continued. “She’s the sweetest woman in show business. And not to be mean, but she’s being a flake. I’m sorry, but that’s how it feels. She’s being flaky. And that’s very hard to be in business with.”
In March, Clarkson was unexpectedly absent from her namesake talk show for two weeks. At the time, TMZ wrote that she was “dealing with a personal matter that does not directly involve her.” In May, gossip surrounding the show started up again, this time focused on whether or not Clarkson wanted to quit the gig altogether.
A producer for the show told the Daily Mail that things were “not feeling too stable” on set, and that Clarkson “could bolt at any time.” There was speculation that former Today host Hoda Kotb might replace Clarkson, which the producer welcomed. “Everyone loves Kelly. She’s a wonderful person. But maybe Hoda would be a better boss,” they said told the tabloid. “She sure would be a lot more stable than what we’ve been going through.”
Is she going to perform this weekend?
Clarkson is slated to be onstage this Friday and Saturday at Caesars Palace, and there are still some tickets available. If you’re going to be in Vegas this weekend, I think you should try to go. It seems unlikely that she would postpone again, plus, she’ll be fresh off a week of vocal rest. Ignoring all the gossip for a second: That might make for an incredible performance.
