Watch Kelly Clarkson’s Sensational Cover of ‘Golden’ on Final Show
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Kelly Clarkson marked the end of her long-running daytime talk show with a widely praised cover of "Golden", the Oscar-winning song from *KPop Demon Hunters*, during the finale of *The Kelly Clarkson Show* after seven seasons on air. The performance formed the centrepiece of a special "Kelly by Request" episode built entirely around fan-favourite Kellyoke covers, an upbeat, concert-style send-off that producers deliberately chose over a sombre farewell.
Clarkson's team called it the most-requested Kellyoke performance in the show's history, and viewers online praised her for hitting the song's high notes in the original key without resorting to falsetto. Executive producer Alex Duda told USA Today that "Golden" was so popular it shaped the entire final episode, and it was not Clarkson's first tribute to the film's soundtrack, having covered "What It Sounds Like" with My Band Y'all in January. The show's end follows Clarkson's announcement in February that she was stepping away to prioritise time with her children, closing out a seven-season run with what producers framed as a celebratory finale rather than a tearful goodbye.
- Kelly Clarkson closed her talk show's finale with a cover of "Golden"
- Fans called it the most-requested Kellyoke song ever on the show
- Show ends after seven seasons; Clarkson cited wanting to focus on her kids
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Kelly Clarkson has spent the past seven years hosting her own daytime television talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," which mixes celebrity interviews with musical segments. One of its most popular features is "Kellyoke," in which Clarkson covers a song requested by viewers, showcasing her powerful singing voice. Earlier this year Clarkson announced the show would end after this season, saying she wanted to spend more time with her children.
"Golden" is a song from KPop Demon Hunters, an animated Netflix film with a soundtrack that has proved hugely popular and won an Oscar. The song has become known for its demanding high notes, making it a particular test of vocal skill for anyone attempting to cover it.
For her show's final episode, Clarkson performed "Golden" as part of a "Kelly by Request" special, after it was voted the most-requested Kellyoke cover in the programme's history. The performance has drawn attention because of how the finale was produced and received by fans, marking the end of a long-running talk show built around Clarkson's musical talent.
Full account
The Kelly Clarkson Show has wrapped after seven seasons, and the US host marked the occasion with what fans are calling a standout rendition of "Golden", the Oscar-winning song from the animated Netflix film KPop Demon Hunters. Performed during the programme's regular "Kellyoke" segment, the cover was reportedly the most requested in the show's history, according to both Clarkson's own team and the show's YouTube channel.
The final taping, recorded on a Monday, saw Clarkson and her band, My Band Y'all, tackle the song in its original key, retaining its Korean-language verses. Online reaction focused heavily on her vocal delivery, with viewers on YouTube and Instagram praising her for hitting the track's demanding high notes without resorting to falsetto. The episode itself was built around a "Kelly Clarkson by Request" theme, featuring further fan-chosen numbers from her own back catalogue, including "Since U Been Gone", "Sober" and "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)". Clarkson's children, River, 11, and Remington, 10 — whom she shares with her late former husband Brandon Blackstock — were present in the audience and joined her on stage, and she used the closing episode to thank her crew, band and viewers for their support over the show's run.
News that the talk show would conclude after its seventh season first broke in February, when Clarkson and broadcaster NBCUniversal confirmed the decision, though production continued through to the autumn as planned. Clarkson later spoke about the choice being a difficult one, telling NBC's Today programme that shifting family circumstances and a wish to spend more time with her children had shaped the timing. The show's executive producer, Alex Duda, said the finale was deliberately structured around fan requests and the "Golden" performance specifically, with the aim of ending the run on an upbeat, celebratory note rather than a sombre one.
"Golden" itself made history earlier this year by becoming the first K-pop-style song to win the Academy Award for best original song, credited to songwriters including EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick and Teddy Park among others. This was not Clarkson's first foray into the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack; she and her band had earlier covered "What It Sounds Like" from the same film during a January episode. Clarkson has continued to release new solo material alongside the show's conclusion, including the single "I'd Be Lying" in July, signalling that her departure from daily television is a change in format rather than a retreat from performing.
Where outlets differ
Rolling Stone centres its account on the online fan reaction to the vocal performance, quoting specific YouTube and Instagram comments, and cites executive producer Alex Duda's comments to USA Today about the reasoning behind the finale's structure.
The Hollywood Reporter gives more detail on the wider content of the last episode, including the other songs performed at fans' request and the presence of Clarkson's children on stage, and includes her on-air remarks thanking the crew and audience.
THR also provides fuller background on "Golden" winning the Oscar for best original song and lists its songwriting credits, and cites Clarkson's earlier Today show interview explaining the family-related reasons behind ending the programme, details Rolling Stone does not include.