Kelly Clarkson is walking back into the spotlight this fall with The Kelly Clarkson Show, just weeks after saying goodbye to her ex-husband and the father of her kids, Brandon Blackstock.

Season 7 of the NBC daytime series is set to premiere in September, PEOPLE confirms, following a summer where the talk show host’s life was anything but business as usual. Season 6 wrapped in June, and Clarkson dove straight into her Las Vegas residency, only to be sidelined by real life in the most gut-wrenching way.

On August 6, Clarkson posted to Instagram that she was postponing the rest of her August dates to be with her kids, River, 11, and Remington, 9. She did not give details then, just that their father had been ill and she needed to be “fully present” for them. The next day, the world learned why.

Brandon Blackstock died at 48 after battling cancer for more than three years. A rep for the family confirmed the news, saying he “passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.” From a previous marriage, Blackstock also had two older children, Savannah and Seth, and became a grandfather in 2022.

Clarkson and Blackstock’s history is well known. They met in 2006, reconnected years later, married in 2013, and had two kids before a long, messy divorce that was finalized in 2022. Despite a court battle over their Montana ranch and millions in support payments, sources say Clarkson kept it respectful for the sake of their kids, never speaking poorly about him to them. In his final days, she put everything else aside to be with her children as they faced losing their dad.

The Vegas residency was already a rollercoaster. Clarkson had postponed her July opening weekend due to a strained voice, telling fans she did not want to cause “serious damage” before getting to perform for them properly. When August hit, the delays took on a different weight. Behind the scenes, she had already been absent from The Kelly Clarkson Show for multiple episodes earlier in the year, with guest hosts like Brooke Shields and Wanda Sykes filling in, because of Blackstock’s declining health.

Now, NBC is moving forward with production on Season 7. The show’s stability has been a big reason Clarkson has stayed in New York City with her kids since relocating from Los Angeles last year. It gives her steady hours, time with her family, and a platform that still pulls in major names and moments. Even so, insiders told PEOPLE she is considering a shift when her contract is up next year.

But before any long-term changes, Clarkson is stepping back this fall, keeping the show’s rhythm going while her personal life adjusts to a new normal. Her other projects have not stopped completely either. Her Songs and Stories with Kelly Clarkson series kicks off August 19, and her rescheduled Vegas shows are booked for summer 2026 at Caesars Palace.

If you are looking for proof that Clarkson’s grit matches her vocal power, this is it. She has navigated the glare of celebrity, a headline-making divorce, raising two kids, and the quiet heartbreak of losing someone who, no matter the past, will always be her children’s dad. Now, she is turning the lights back on in the studio, stepping into a role that millions watch every weekday, but doing it with the weight of the last few months still on her shoulders.

Fall will bring the jokes, the music, and the celebrity chatter fans love, but it also brings a Kelly Clarkson who has just been through hell and still showed up. And that might be the most impressive performance yet.