Someone needs to check in on my queen, Kelly Clarkson. Fans are worried about the “Since U Been Gone” singer after she postponed her first two Las Vegas residency performances just 90 minutes before showtime.
Kelly planned to kick off her Studio Sessions residency at Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace on July 4, but she had to postpone at the last minute due to vocal strain issues. “We have been working 24/7 to make Studio Sessions the most intimate and extraordinary experience with and for my incredible fans,” she wrote to fans on Instagram. “I am beyond grateful that you always show up for me, and I am devastated to have to postpone tonight and tomorrow’s opening at Caesars.”
Her statement continued, “The prep and rehearsals have taken a toll on my 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.” The pop star noted that she “can’t wait to be back” next weekend.
These surprising show cancellations come just a few months after Kelly was absent from several episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Not to mention, sources say she’s fighting “hidden battles.” So, what’s going on with Kelly Clarkson? Here’s what we know.
Is Kelly Clarkson Okay?
Following the cancellation of those Vegas residency shows, a source told Page Six that Kelly’s going through a hard time right now. “Kelly’s personal life is so insanely complicated,” they claimed. “Kelly is fighting some serious hidden battles that very few people are privy to…it’s a source of emotional and therefore physical distress for her.”
Another insider explained Kelly’s vocal strain issues. “She belts out every single note,” they said. Adding, “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. She cannot risk damaging her cords further. She’s on thin ice.” (Kelly’s hardly the first singer to cancel a show because of vocal strain — Shawn Mendes, Adele, Céline Dion, and more major artists have done the same.)
In March, Kelly missed 10 episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Andy Cohen also filled in for her during an episode the following month. Both times she was absent, the singer said she took time off for personal reasons and didn’t offer more details.
After those absences, Kelly got candid about “ups and downs” on the 1,000th episode of her NBC talk show. “For 1,000 episodes, we have laughed together, we have cried together with beautiful stories, sang together with some people, danced together, celebrated and competed together,” she said. “I’ve lost, alone, a lot.” She emphasized that there have been “a lot of ups and downs personally.” Kelly notably went through a challenging divorce in 2022.
Wishing Kelly (and her vocal cords) all the best!
