I've Watched ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show’ for Its Entire Run—These Are the Kellyoke Covers I'll Never Forget
She made them all her own.
I’ve adored Kelly Clarkson’s music since she won American Idol back in 2002. So, when The Kelly Clarkson Show premiered in 2019, I was excited to see her take her talents to daytime TV. The show even included a “Kellyoke” segment, where Kelly would take a famous song and make it her own.
“Music was always our shortcut to connection, and we knew that we wanted to start with music every single day,” The Kelly Clarkson Show executive producer Alex Duda told me in an interview ahead of the series’ final episode on August 31. “It became that rare place where artists could see their own music reinterpreted by one of the greatest vocalists. Kelly also loved doing big things, and sometimes in the middle, she’d say, ‘You know what? We can strip that back and change it in a second.’ It was so fun for everyone to watch, and I think through the music, they could feel Kelly’s passion for it and bring everyone together.”
There are some performances I’ll never forget—and I had to round them up and share them with the world.
“Falling” by Harry Styles
Kelly covered this song in 2022 and made Harry’s original song sound like it was written just for her.
“All the Things She Said” by t.A.T.u.
Months before this song became associated with Heated Rivalry, Kelly took it to a different level. I put on this cover whenever I need a mood boost!
“Behind These Hazel Eyes” by Kelly Clarkson
“Behind These Hazel Eyes” is my all-time favorite Kelly Clarkson song. So when she sang an updated version of her 2004 classic, I was all for it! The key change makes this one hit different.
“If I Only Had a Brain” from The Wizard of Oz
Kelly performed this take on “If I Only Had a Brain” as Wicked hit theaters in late 2024. I still think about how spooky this arrangement sounds compared to the original.
“Vogue” by Madonna
When I went to a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show in late 2023, Kelly performed this Madonna cover and brought everyone to their feet for an ’80s dance moment! I just wish it were available on Spotify.
“All the Small Things” by Blink-182
I grew up in the late ’90s and early 2000s, so Kelly’s pop-punk cover of this Blink-182 classic feels like the perfect throwback. I also loved her grunge-inspired outfit and makeup.
“Beautiful Disaster” by Kelly Clarkson
Between the haunting melody, her incredible vocal range, and the emotional lyrics, this cover made me realize I needed to listen to the original version, from Kelly’s 2003 album Thankful, more often.
“Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan
Kelly has expressed her love for Chappell Roan over the years, so it made sense she’d cover one of the singer’s most popular hits. I can’t help but want to dance every time I put this on—and wish the two would collab on new music.
“1985” by Bowling for Soup
This is another of my favorite songs from the early aughts, and Kelly had me feeling nostalgic the minute she sang the opening lyrics. If I’m honest ... I may prefer this to the original.
“Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer
I first heard this song while watching an episode of Seventh Heaven as a child, and Kelly’s piano version makes it even sweeter.
“What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction
I really enjoyed hearing this song from a female perspective. Fun fact: Kelly co-wrote the song “Tell Me a Lie” from One Direction’s debut album, Up All Night.
“What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish
When the Barbie movie debuted in 2023, fans begged Kelly to perform a cover of Billie’s hit “What Was I Made For.” Kelly made it all her own—and made me wonder what a Kelly-Billie duet would sound like.
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