Kelly Clarkson turned her dreams into a reality when she became the first American Idol in 2002. More than two decades later, she’s a certified superstar who continues to make big moves in the music industry. In addition to singing, acting, writing songs, and hosting her talk show, Kelly Clarkson also launched her own record label. She announced in January but recently opened up about the move on the Not Gonna Lie podcast with Kylie Kelce. The expectant mom said, “You broke the news on your talk show earlier this year that you decided to start your own music label.

”And Kelly quickly chimed in, “Yes,” she replied, “but let’s clear the air, okay?”

Kelly Clarkson And Her Record Label Will Be Starting Slowly

Kelly Clarkson explained of her record label adventure, “I didn’t know how big that was going to blow up. People were like, ‘Hey, artists are wanting to be signed and people are wanting to work at it.’ I just had to create something because I’m releasing my own stuff and it was like — you have to release it through some kind of vessel.”

She added that her own music and life are enough for her to keep track of right now.

“So I’m not taking artists, and I’m really lucky to be clearing the air right now. It’s not that I don’t want to. I know a lot of amazing artists. My cup runneth over. But I’m a single mom with two kids and like… a lot going on.”

Kelly Clarkson added that having her own record label truly is a huge accomplishment.

“It is cool at 42 to completely run the ship,” Kelly said. “It’s kind of cool to have my own label for my own stuff. Like, we just shot a video in the little town that I live in in Montana, which is where I wrote the song. It’s a really cool thing. It was just me, my band, and some really cool people I’ve known for decades.”

Kelly Clarkson Staffer says she’s “back to herself” after unexplain absence

After Kelly Clarkson‘s unexplained and lengthy absence from her gig hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show, an unnamed source close to the set tells ET Online that the singer is doing just fine.

“Kelly is back to herself and all seems relatively back to normal,” the source states.

They didn’t explain the reason behind her time off the show, which extended through much of March. However, they did dismiss a rumor that’s been swirling about the show’s climate leading up to her absence.

That report came from the Daily Mail, who spoke to another insider claiming that staffers were “walking on eggshells” around Clarkson before she took her break from hosting.

The source said that Clarkson was formerly “accessible” and chatty, saying, “She knows the names of everyone’s husbands and kids and would ask about them by name.” But they claimed that her tone had recently changed, creating a “weird vibe” on set.

But according to the source who spoke to ET Online, those claims are inaccurate.

When Was Kelly Clarkson Absent From Her Talk Show The Kelly Clarkson Show?

According to a timeline laid out by People, Clarkson was absent on March 3, and actor Simu Liu filled in for her. She was back on March 4, and didn’t address the switch-up to the audience. She hosted on March 5, but on March 6, she was gone again — this time with comedian Roy Wood, Jr. filling in.

The singer continued to miss tapings, with a rotating cast of stars hosting the show on March 7 and March 11, March 13 and March 14.

Why Did Kelly Clarkson Miss So Many Episodes of the Show?

That’s the big question. Clarkson has yet to directly address what kept her away from work, though a mid-March report from Entertainment Tonight quoted a source who said she was away from the show due to a “family emergency.”

Some fans also thought she might be hinting at the reason behind the break during the 1,000th-episode special of The Kelly Clarkson Show, during a monologue that found her reminiscing over the many segments and games in which the cast and audience have “competed together.”

She then added, “I’ve lost alone, a lot,” reassuring the audience, “it’s okay.” It could’ve just been self-deprecating humor, but given the context — and Clarkson’s history of being open about personal struggles — some viewers thought she might be alluding to something more going on in her personal life.