NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Kelly Clarkson says she鈥檚 learned a thing or two about interviewing after being in the spotlight as a recording artist since 2002. So, she鈥檚 created a safe space for guests on season six of her talk show which launches Monday. Burned by media stories in the past, the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter says she takes a different approach with guests on her daytime show.
Fans of the show 鈥� based in New York for its second year 鈥� can expect more celebrity interviews, human interest stories, and Clarkson's signature Clarkson says she likes to make guests feel comfortable, often playing games and infusing humor into her segments.
Clarkson is also an executive producer on the show, which has won 22 Daytime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Daytime Host and Talk Show last year. She spoke to The Associated Press recently about how she approaches interviews, covering new artists and staying incognito on the subway. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity.
AP: What are you most excited about in the new season?
CLARKSON: By season six, people kind of trust our show more. I think a lot of times some actors or artists 鈥� especially in the limelight 鈥� they get a little nervous about going on shows because they鈥檙e like, 鈥淎re they going to try and angle something? Or get some sort of soundbite or clickbait?鈥� That鈥檚 not what I鈥檓 about. I鈥檝e obviously had that happen to me in my career, so I don鈥檛 want to do that to anyone. I think people by now feel safe there, and they鈥檙e willing to like, you know, play a dumb game that鈥檚 just fun or they鈥檙e willing to talk about things that maybe they don鈥檛 normally talk about.
AP: What have you learned from being on the other side of interviews?
CLARKSON: I know what the receiving end feels like. You just want to promote something that you鈥檙e proud of, and then having to shadowbox your way through an interview so somebody is not trying to make their career off something they try and get you to say 鈥� it鈥檚 just gross and it鈥檚 hurtful. There鈥檚 been certain things, like where I help navigate the interview in a way that I鈥檓 comfortable. I never ask someone something that I wouldn鈥檛 mind answering. I definitely have been on the receiving end of that in a positive way and in a very negative way. I just want people to feel safe and comfortable because it鈥檚 supposed to be a good time, you know?
AP: Who are your dream guests?
CLARKSON: Everything is a cherry on top at this point. I鈥檝e had the most amazing bookers for my show. I hung out with and Cher and Heart and Alanis Morissette and Babyface and like all these artists that I love musically. And then I got to hang out with Josh Brolin, who was like in 鈥淭he Goonies鈥� and he鈥檚 Thanos, and it鈥檚 like, so cool! Meeting people that you love in their movies or for their work and then, you know, getting to see a sneak peek of who they are as a human is very fun. I always say Meryl Streep 鈥� she is one of my favorites in the industry, whether it鈥檚 singing or acting or whatever.
AP: Your 鈥淜ellyoke鈥� segment is a fan-favorite, and you cover many popular songs. Which new artists are you listening to now?
CLARKSON: I鈥檓 a big fan of I鈥檓 actually covering her quite a bit this season. I love Fletcher. I鈥檝e always been covering this generation, like or Olivia Rodrigo, there鈥檚 a lot of them. There鈥檚 a lot of talent 鈥� I鈥檓 a big fan of. I鈥檓 like 42, but I love it. Music is music. That鈥檚 the cool thing about it. There is no specific culture, specific age, specific, whatever you have to be 鈥� it鈥檚 for everyone. I cover 180 songs a season, which is awesome. It鈥檚 just a lot of work, so to be able to sing songs and be so excited about like these new up-and-coming artists. It鈥檚 exciting covering these songs and then challenging you a bit but I love this. It鈥檚 a great generation of artists right now.
AP: Is it true you ride the New York City subway? Don鈥檛 you get recognized?
CLARKSON: Not at all! Girl, I don鈥檛 look like this 鈥� (motions to made-up face) 鈥� this is not how I woke up! (laughs) I usually am in a mom bun, or a hat and I get away with it. It鈥檚 only when I speak 鈥� as soon as I open my mouth to speak is when people will go, 鈥榳hat?鈥� And then that鈥檚 what gives me away. I have a very talented (hair and makeup) team named Harry and Potter 鈥� that鈥檚 what I call them (laughs) 鈥� and I鈥檓 very lucky. I realize that. On 鈥淭he Voice,鈥� like I remember, any time I鈥檇 ever go out with Blake (Shelton) anywhere or John (Legend) they just look like them all the time. They can鈥檛 get away with it and they can鈥檛 go anywhere. I鈥檓 very blessed. I get away with leading a pretty normal average life, and I don鈥檛 think a lot of people in the limelight get that. But yeah, the subway鈥檚 just faster! So, we鈥檙e on it all the time.
Brooke Lefferts, The Associated Press
