Kelly Clarkson’s final episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show became especially emotional when her two children joined her to help close the chapter after seven seasons on daytime television. The finale aired on August 31, 2026, bringing an end to a run of more than 1,200 episodes.
Clarkson was joined by her daughter River Rose and son Remington “Remy” Alexander, who looked back at some of their favorite memories from growing up around the show. Their appearance quickly became one of the most personal moments of the farewell.
Remington remembered getting the chance to speak with Jason Momoa and performing “My Way” with the show’s band. For a child who had spent years occasionally appearing around his mother’s workplace, those moments clearly stood out.
River’s message was much more emotional. She told her mother that one of her favorite things had been watching her shine every day, a simple compliment that immediately brought Clarkson close to tears.
Clarkson briefly stepped back to regain her composure before joking about how effectively her daughter had made her emotional. She then brought both children closer as she prepared to deliver her final goodbye to viewers.
The family moment carried extra significance because Clarkson has explained that her children were central to her decision to step away from the demanding schedule of daytime television. Earlier this year, she said she wanted more room in her life to focus on River and Remington.
The finale, titled “Kelly By Request,” was built largely around the fans who had supported the program since its 2019 debut. Clarkson performed audience-requested songs and revisited the musical element that became one of the show’s signatures.
That included one final Kellyoke performance, with Clarkson taking on “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters — reportedly the most requested cover in the show’s history.
But music was only part of the goodbye. Clarkson thanked the crew, musicians, guests and viewers who had helped turn the program into an award-winning daytime success, while reflecting on how much her own family had changed during those seven years.
She also acknowledged that viewers had essentially watched River and Remington grow up alongside the show. That made having them physically beside her during the finale feel especially fitting.
Clarkson ended the episode with the familiar message she had repeated throughout the program’s run, encouraging viewers to remember that even when a day begins badly, they still have choices about how they respond to it.
For Clarkson, the finale was not presented as a goodbye to music or entertainment. Instead, it marked the end of one demanding chapter so she could make more room for another — and fittingly, the two people at the center of that decision were standing beside her when the cameras rolled for the final time.
