Inside Kelly Clarkson’s ’emotional’ talk show return after Brandon Blackstock’s death

Kelly Clarkson is back on air in the wake of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock’s death.

The singer made an “emotional” return to the “Kelly Clarkson Show” in a live taping, which is airing on Monday.

The filming took place on a “Tuesday morning,” according to USA Today — but the outlet did not specify the exact date.

The “American Idol” alum, 43, did not mention Blackstock, who died in August at age 48, during the taping.

However, music director Jason Halbert told the outlet Monday that Clarkson’s “Kellyoke” singing segments “reflect things that maybe she wouldn’t talk about verbally in a sitting on the couch interview.”

He acknowledged, “A lot happened for us all in the last year, on personal and career levels.”

Clarkson, notably, sang The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” for the premiere, as well as “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves.

The theme for the NBC show’s seventh season is “light,” with showrunner Alex Duda explaining, “When the world is dark or heavy, [we] look for the light. … That’s what we’ve done since the beginning. We wanted to reaffirm that.”

Monday’s show did so by balancing a lighthearted Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie interview about “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” with a conversation with heroes who saved children during the Texas Hill Country floods in July.

“I don’t know how [Clarkson] compartmentalizes watching that segment, super emotional, and then jumping into, like, making crafts with kids and then jumping into emoting a song,” Halbert said.

Clarkson has been hosting her talk show since 2019, with Season 7 production beginning the week of Sept. 8.

The songwriter set tongues wagging last year due to repeated absences, with TMZ reporting in March that Clarkson was dealing with a “personal matter that does not directly involve her.”

The Grammy winner’s absences left staff feeling “whiplash,” with the Daily Mail reporting in May that “she could bolt at any time.”

Clarkson, additionally, canceled multiple shows in her Las Vegas residency in August — which is when she revealed her former partner’s health struggles.

“While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill,” the “Stronger” crooner wrote via Instagram last month.

“At this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she continued of daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9.

By the following day, news broke that the talent agent had lost his battle to skin cancer.

He is survived by River and Remington, as well as two adult children from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth — Savannah, 23, and Seth, 18 — and one grandchild. Another is on the way.

At the time of Blackstock’s death, he was dating Clarkson’s former assistant Brittney Marie Jones.

Clarkson has yet to issue a statement regarding Blackstock’s death.

The exes got together in 2012 and tied the knot one year later, with the Daytime Emmy winner filing to end their marriage in the summer of 2020.

The pair’s divorce was settled in 2022.