WASHINGTON — Kelly Clarkson finally made her return as host to her daytime talk show on Tuesday after a weekslong absence.
Clarkson opened up the episode with a “Kellyoke,” where she sang “Flames” by New Zealand artist Will Swenson. Soon after wrapping the song, the music star jumped right into interviewing “Severance” actor Adam Scott.
The 42-year-old singer did not publicly address her absence from the show’s past several episodes. Reports surfaced last week that the “American Idol” winner was fine herself but was “dealing with a personal matter.”
Fans awaited Clarkson’s expected return Tuesday after the daytime talk show revealed this week’s TV schedule. If the schedule stays true, Clarkson will be out again for Wednesday’s show and will return on Thursday and Friday.
“Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen will take the helm on Wednesday, according to the schedule.
For the past two weeks, a handful of celebrities have stepped up to guest host episodes of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
According to Entertainment Tonight, a source said Clarkson’s absence was due to a “sudden family emergency” and she missed a total of 10 tapings of her talk show. With nine of those already aired, Wednesday’s episode would be the last one she missed.
ET reported Clarkson was back in her studio Thursday to tape a new episode and will host the show’s 1,000th episode set to air this week.
Questions about Clarkson’s absence started on March 3, when actor Simu Liu seemingly took on hosting duties at the last-minute.
“I am not Kelly Clarkson. I know this may shock many of you,” Liu quipped at the top of the show. “But Kelly actually isn’t able to make it today, we’re sending her our very best.”
“Here’s the thing, I did not know that I was doing this until about five minutes ago when I arrived here to promote my new movie, ‘Last Breath,’ which is in theaters right now,” Liu explained.
According to the Entertainment Tonight report, guests were not told in advance that Clarkson would be out due to privacy reasons and were given the option to guest host when they arrived at the studio.
While Clarkson hosted the episodes that aired on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week, comedian Roy Wood Jr. guest hosted on Thursday and Wanda Sykes was there on Friday.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” is currently in its sixth season and has already been renewed for a seventh. Clarkson is also doing a Las Vegas residency this summer at Caesars Palace from July 4-August 16.