Kelly Clarkson has been poking fun at life after leaving NBC's daytime talk show, joking during her new Las Vegas residency that she no longer has to worry about being fired for touching audience members or sitting through HR meetings. While interacting with fans at a recent show, she jokingly stopped herself mid-gesture, noting that such behaviour would have got her fired at NBC before adding, wistfully, that she missed the programme overall.

Clarkson went on to reminisce about the "different world" of HR compliance compared with her years touring as a young musician, poking fun at rules such as not being able to comment on someone's weight loss. She insisted she took the sessions seriously despite finding some of the guidance excessive, saying she wanted to "protect everyone" even as colleagues found her earnestness over the top. The comments came as she kicked off her "Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions" residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on 17 July, with ten shows scheduled through to 15 August.