There’s no doubt that fans are excited to see Kelly Clarkson back for The Voice season 29. That is still happening, but there is a small, temporary change, as Jennifer Hudson is stepping back in for a little bit.
Earlier in August, news broke of the death of Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. While the two had divorced, they still shared children, and Clarkson made it clear that she was going to do what was right for them to help them grieve the loss of her father. That meant putting work to one side for the time being.
Kelly Clarkson missed a taping for The Voice
The Voice season 29 is now taping, and Deadline shares that Clarkson stepped away for one shoot. Hudson stepped in to allow her the time away, and it turns out that it’s for a rehearsal for the battle rounds. It may not make much of a difference when The Voice season 29 airs, but it’s understandable that Clarkson would need some time away.
Hudson is the perfect temporary replacement for Clarkson, as a fellow American Idol contestant. While she didn’t win like Clarkson, she did certainly stand out as a star to watch, and that star has grown ever since. She comes from the same culture as the contestants on The Voice and will be able to coach with that in mind.
On top of that, Hudson has been a coach on The Voice before. She also has a popular daytime talk show, further linking her to someone who could match Clarkson’s energy for the contestants on the series.
Kelly Clarkson’s daytime show is uninterrupted
Clarkson is a busy woman, and she’s managing helping her children and keeping her own schedule on track like a rock star. Clarkson’s daytime talk show is filming at the same time as The Voice season 29 (which is also filming at the same time as The Voice season 28!). It turns out that while she stepped away from a Voice shooting, her daytime talk show has been uninterrupted.
Not enough Clarkson for you? Don’t miss her four-part Songs & Stories with Kelly Clarkson series, which premiered on Tuesday, Aug. 19. There are episodes with Gloria Estefan, Teddy Swims, and Lizzo still to come. As those have already been filmed, they have not been affected by Clarkson’s need to step away.
All we can say is that our hearts are with Clarkson. It’s not easy to navigate a death, especially when it comes with so many mixed feelings due to personal circumstances and children.
The Voice season 29 is still set to premiere in 2026 on NBC.