Kelly Clarkson Says ‘a Weight Has Lifted’ as She Moves Talk Show to NYC

Kelly Clarkson is in the New York groove.

The Grammy winner has just moved her daytime talk program The Kelly Clarkson Show from Los Angeles to New York for its fifth season, which debuted Monday, and has made herself at home in the Big Apple.

“At this point, I’m 40 years old. Mama rented something nice!” Clarkson told USA Today of her new home that’s blocks away from her talk show’s new studio in 30 Rockefeller Plaza. “I was like, ‘I’m not living here unless it’s right by the park and really nice for the kids.’”

The kids are 9-year-old River Rose and Remington, 7, who she shares with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. The couple signed off on their divorce in 2022 after splitting in 2020, prompting Clarkson to make the cross-country move.

“I’ll be real honest: I thought I was making a horrible decision,” Clarkson told the outlet of her concerns prior to the move. “I knew I needed a fresh start and couldn’t be in L.A. I really wanted to be in Montana, but you can’t really do a show from there quite yet. So I was like, ‘The only other option would probably be New York.'"

It’s still early, but so far, Clarkson said she’s not having any regrets. “I genuinely love it, and I love that my kids love it.”

Clarkson is now taping her show at Studio 6A, which was once home to David Letterman, and it’s more intimate than her previous TV home on the Universal lot in Los Angeles.

There are also plans to take the show out on the streets in New York to search for new talent. “We’re definitely going to be on the streets and doing different things that we weren’t capable of in L.A. because it’s so spread out,” Clarkson added. “People that watch daytime television want to laugh and cry at a beautiful performance. They want to be inspired.”

The move to New York comes after Clarkson and the show faced claims of a toxic work environment back in May.

"In my 20 years in the entertainment industry, I've always led with my heart and what I believed to be right. I love my team at The Kelly Clarkson Show, and to find out that anyone is feeling unheard and/or disrespected on this show is unacceptable," Clarkson shared on Instagram at the time.

"I have always been, and will continue to be, committed to creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment at The Kelly Clarkson Show," she continued. "As we prepare for a move to the East Coast, I am more committed than ever to ensuring that not only our team that is moving, but also our new team in N.Y., is comprised of the best and kindest in the business."