The Ellen DeGeneres Show is coming to an end, as the longtime talk show host announced earlier this month that she plans to bring her daytime show to a close in 2022. Of course, since the announcement, many have wondered who NBC might shift into DeGeneres’ timeslot. A few names have been floating around, which has only increased that speculation. But now, NBC has officially found the talk show to replace Ellen, and it’s a familiar face.
Kelly Clarkson is now officially set to take over Ellen DeGeneres’ timeslot when her show ends next year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Owned and produced by NBC’s syndication arm, The Kelly Clarkson Show will officially take over the timeslot in the fall of 2022 on NBC-owned stations. The trade adds that while Clarkson’s show is currently carried in 200 stations across the country, the show will be billed as the new daytime headliner in leading timeslots next year.
It was recently reported that Kelly Clarkson was one of the big names in contention for Ellen DeGeneres’ coveted timeslot. What seemed to give her an advantage was the growing popularity of her show, which launched back in 2019. Actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish was also reported to be a favorite to lead a new talk show in the slot, though the busy star on daytime TV may have been difficult from a logistical standpoint.
The Kelly Clarkson Show is currently in its second season and was recently renewed for two additional runs, taking it through 2023. Pulling Clarkson into Ellen's slot also come with financial incentive for NBC, as Warner Bros. owned and produced the latter. Based on comments from NBCUniversal Local president Valari Staab, the network couldn’t be happier with the move for Clarkson’s show:
These are remarkable achievements for a talk show in its second season. We look forward to Ellen DeGeneres’ 19th season paired with Kelly Clarkson for what is sure to be a blockbuster year. By 2022, The Kelly Clarkson Show will be the star of our daytime entertainment schedules and an asset to our early afternoon newscasts.
Ahead of Ellen DeGeneres’ announcement, the talk show had been facing a few situations. Last year, the series made headlines due to allegations of a “toxic” workplace, leading to an investigation. However, following the backlash and the show’s return to the studio post-quarantine, the program has seen a decline in ratings. While DeGeneres hasn’t directly linked her decision to the allegations, she did recently offer some thoughts on the situation, claiming that the controversy was “orchestrated.”
Kelly Clarkson had made significant strides with her self-titled talk show, as it has quickly become a fan favorite. With this, putting her in Ellen DeGeneres’ slot feels like the natural decision and, if things go as planned, it should help take the show to the next level, in terms of public recognition.
