Kelly Clarkson returned to work on Monday (September 29), kicking off season 7 of The Kelly Clarkson Show with an emotional premiere that included honoring heroes from the July 2025 Texas floods, particularly school bus drivers who rescued over 900 children. This marked her first appearance since the death of her ex-husband, talent manager Brandon Blackstock, who passed away on August 7 after a three-year battle with melanoma. Clarkson had previously postponed her Las Vegas residency in August to support their children during Blackstock’s illness. While she didn’t directly address his death on the show, musical director Jason Halbert described the episode as “emotional for all of us,” while hinting that upcoming “Kellyoke” performances will reflect the personal challenges Clarkson has faced over the past year. “You’re going to see some songs reflect things that maybe she wouldn’t talk about verbally in a sitting-on-the-couch interview,” Halbert told USA Today. (People)