After Years of Turmoil...KELLY'S FINALLY PUTTING HERSELF FIRST

The focus in life has been gradually shifting for Kelly Clarkson

- 

On the 1,000th episode of her namesake talk show, Kelly Clarkson recalled how she'd hosted the series in different cities, on a road trip, during a pandemic and through a “lot of ups and downs,” some professional and some personal. “I hosted the show with an eye-patch and with my leg in a cast,” the “Stronger” singer, 42, joked on the March 20 episode.

Kelly did not comment on the fact that she'd been absent from multiple episodes earlier in March, with the program helmed by a series of guests. While that has some fans worried, those close to Kelly see it as a sign she's getting better at maintaining a work-life balance. “Friends say Kelly took time away to deal with a personal matter — a family health issue,” says an insider. “Taking time for the things and people that are important to her has been a real struggle, but she is learning how to make time for herself again.”