The crisp September air in New York City carried a buzz thicker than a Times Square crowd on New Year’s Eve as Kelly Clarkson bounded onto the stage at 30 Rockefeller Center on September 10, 2025, her blonde curls bouncing like they had a backstage pass to a rock concert. It was day three of production for Season 7 of The Kelly Clarkson Show, and the 43-year-old powerhouse—Grammy darling, American Idol original, and daytime TV’s reigning queen—wasn’t just easing back into the groove after a summer shadowed by personal storms. No, she was slamming the accelerator, cramming a dozen A-list heavyweights into premiere week alone, from Julia Roberts’ timeless charm to Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s larger-than-life charisma. Flanked by her band Y’All—those soulful session pros who’ve turned Kellyoke into a cultural phenomenon—she leaned into the mic with a wink that could melt steel, her Texas twang dripping mischief: “Y’all, this season? It’s gonna break records—starting with this week. We’re talkin’ twelve icons, zero filters, and Kellyoke that’ll have you hittin’ rewind till your remote begs for mercy.” The studio audience, a mix of wide-eyed superfans and lucky lottery winners who’d snagged free tickets via 1iota, erupted in a roar that shook the rafters. As Clarkson wrapped a spontaneous cover of Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” to cap the taping, fans outside the barricades were already flooding social media, pleading for sneak peeks: “Kelly, drop the full list—my DVR’s sweating!” In a landscape of scripted small talk and canned applause, Clarkson’s premiere blitz isn’t just a return; it’s a revolution, proving once again why her show has clinched 22 Daytime Emmys and a stranglehold on afternoons across 200-plus markets.

For the uninitiated—or those still nursing a coffee from last season—The Kelly Clarkson Show is daytime’s diamond in the rough: A hour-long whirlwind filmed live in Studio 6A at Rockefeller Plaza, where the Empire State Building looms like a nosy uncle. Since its 2019 debut, it’s been Clarkson’s canvas for chaos and connection—opening with Kellyoke, that viral ritual where she devours fan-requested covers from pop bops to country weepers, backed by Y’All’s funky horns and heart-stopping harmonies. Then comes the core: Unflinching chats with celebs who spill more than soundbites, segments spotlighting everyday heroes (think flood rescuers getting dream makeovers), and those spontaneous surprises that turn the couch into a confessional. Relocated to NYC for Season 5 amid the 2023 writers’ strike shuffle, the show’s barn-inspired set—rustic beams nodding to Clarkson’s Burleson roots—has become a sanctuary for stars seeking real talk over rehearsed patter. Season 6 wrapped in May with a rooftop finale that drew 2.3 million viewers, outpacing rivals like The Drew Barrymore Show by 15%. But Season 7? It’s Clarkson unleashed, channeling the resilience forged from her August heartbreak—the sudden passing of ex-husband Brandon Blackstock from melanoma at 48—into a season of unapologetic joy. “Grief tried to bench me,” she shared in a pre-premiere sit-down with People, her voice steady but eyes fierce, “but I’m suiting up for the win. This week’s guests? They’re my all-stars—reminders that life’s too short for anything less than epic.”

Production kicked into high gear on September 8, with Clarkson trading her Montana ranch for Manhattan’s hustle, co-parenting kids River Rose, 11, and Remington Alexander, 9, via FaceTime check-ins that often devolve into impromptu dance parties. The premiere airs September 29 at 3 p.m. ET—check local listings for your market—but the real fireworks unfold in that inaugural week, a gauntlet of twelve guests that’s got syndication execs popping champagne. It’s not scattershot booking; it’s thematic thunder, grouped around fresh flicks, personal pivots, and powerhouse collabs that promise panel pow-wows deeper than a dive bar confessional. Kicking off Monday: Julia Roberts, the eternal Pretty Woman turning 60 with the grace of a swan dive, chats her directorial debut After the Hunt, a Southern gothic dramedy about family feuds and firefly-lit forgiveness that’s already generating Oscar buzz. Roberts, no stranger to Clarkson’s couch (their 2022 gab on rom-com resurgences went mega-viral), joins for a Kellyoke duet on Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”—Dolly Parton herself tweeted “Yas, queens!” in preview hype. Tuesday doubles down with The Rock, Dwayne Johnson, whose biceps precede him like heralds, plugging his Maui-filmed actioner The Smashing Machine while dishing on dad life with his three daughters. Expect tequila tastings from his Teremana line (audience giveaways, naturally) and a surprise Kellyoke where Clarkson and Johnson tackle Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” Johnson’s growl clashing hilariously with her powerhouse pipes.

Wednesday’s a double-header of leading ladies: Emily Blunt, the Devil Wears Prada devil with a directorial dash in the Earhart biopic The Smashing Machine (co-starring Johnson, cue crossover chaos), teams with Scarlett Johansson for a panel on “imposter syndrome in heels.” Blunt’s dry British wit—think her roasting Clarkson’s cowboy boots mid-chat—pairs with Johansson’s no-BS edge post-twins, as they unpack motherhood’s multitasking madness. Thursday throws curveballs with Matthew McConaughey, all right-right-right drawl and wildfire warrior vibes, touting The Lost Bus, a survival thriller inspired by his Texas philanthropy. He brings Lincoln swag for the crowd and joins Clarkson for an acoustic “Alright, Alright, Alright” that devolves into a group therapy sesh on midlife reinvention. Friday caps the frenzy with Channing Tatum and Margot Robbie, the Magic Mike dream team reflecting on A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, their steamy spy romp that’s got critics calling it “Bond with banter.” Tatum’s Southern charm sparks with Robbie’s Aussie fire over choreographed Kellyoke to Ginuwine’s “Pony,” the studio erupting in whoops that register on the Richter scale.

But wait—there’s more. Sandwiched in are the wild cards: Marion Cotillard and Reese Witherspoon on Tuesday afternoon taping for The Morning Show Season 5 tea (Cotillard’s French flair clashing with Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine hustle); Colin Farrell’s brooding Irish brogue on Wednesday for fatherhood follies in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey; Sylvester Stallone roaring in Thursday for Tulsa King Season 3 grit; Shonda Rhimes dropping Bridgerton spoilers spicier than Regency tea on Friday; and Lionel Richie rounding out with American Idol nostalgia, his velvet “Hello” morphing into a medley with Clarkson that’ll have Voice fans weeping. That’s twelve in five days—panels, duets, and deep dives that blur lines between guest spots and group therapy. “We’re cramming ’em in like a family reunion with too much pie,” Clarkson teased on Instagram Live, her feed exploding with 3 million views. Surprise Kellyokes pepper the week: Roberts and Witherspoon harmonizing on Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”; Johnson and Stallone butchering (lovingly) a Beastie Boys medley; Johansson and Blunt slaying Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” in vocal drag. Y’All’s brass blasts through it all, turning the studio into a juke joint where boundaries dissolve.

This blitz isn’t just star-gazing; it’s Clarkson at her connective core. Premiere week spotlights July’s Texas flood heroes—those chopper pilots who airlifted campers from raging waters— with on-couch tributes and $50,000 grants via Kelly’s Korner, her philanthropy arm that’s donated millions since 2020. “These aren’t red-carpet types,” Clarkson emphasized in rehearsals, “they’re the real MVPs. We’re makin’ space for ’em amid the glamour.” It’s a nod to her own year: Blackstock’s August 7 passing upended Vegas residencies and Voice preps (Jennifer Hudson heroically subbed), but Clarkson emerged fiercer, her November album Spark—a pop-country blaze of ballads on loss and light—teasing tracks in Kellyoke previews. “Heartbreak’s my co-writer now,” she quipped to Variety, “but joy’s the chorus.” Fans, who’ve stuck through her 1,058 episodes like loyal roadies, are rabid: #Kellys12Pack trended on X with 4 million impressions, clips of rehearsal leaks (Robbie twerking to Clarkson covers) racking TikTok stitches. “Gimme the full rundown—my afternoons need this chaos!” begged one devotee, while another posted, “Kelly packing 12 A-listers? Records? Honey, she’s breaking the space-time continuum.”

Behind the velvet ropes, it’s a symphony of synergy: Universal Television’s crack team ensuring glitch-free live taps (doors open 11 a.m., show at 1 p.m.), NBCUniversal Syndication Studios beaming to Citytv in Canada and 7Bravo in Australia. Clarkson’s band—Y’All’s core of keys wizardry, horn heroes, and rhythm royalty—rehearses in the basement till dawn, their covers leaking like contraband. Merch madness ensues: Premiere-week hoodies emblazoned “12 and Counting” fly at $45, with VIP packages ($250) snagging post-show selfies. Critics are salivating—Entertainment Weekly dubs it “daytime’s Avengers assemble,” forecasting Emmy sweeps for its blend of levity and legacy. Yet whispers persist: Rumors of Clarkson’s waning host passion (she’s eyed more touring post-album) swirl, but insiders quash ’em. “This week’s her love letter to the grind,” one source spills. “Records? Bet on it—viewership’s projected at 2.5 mil premiere night.”

As the Rockefeller marquee flickers to life on September 29, one truth blazes: Kelly Clarkson’s not returning—she’s reclaiming. Twelve A-listers in week one? It’s not hype; it’s her blueprint for breaking barriers, one wink, one wail at a time. Fans begging for peeks? Consider ’em granted: Roberts’ wisdom, The Rock’s roar, Kellyoke confetti. Tune in, darlin’s—the queen’s court is crammed, the records are ripe for shattering, and Clarkson’s just warming up her pipes. This season won’t just play; it’ll play for keeps.