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Kelly Clarkson elegantly addresses Ellen DeGeneres comparisons as show returns

"No one can take over for Ellen".

By Jamie Tabberer

Words: Jamie Tabberer; pictures: NBC/Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Kelly Clarkson has gracefully dismissed comparisons to talk show icon Ellen DeGeneres, as her own Emmy-winning talk show gears up for its third season.

The third season of The Kelly Clarkson Show airs from 13 September, and follows news earlier this year that Ellen is to step down from her show, which has been running since 2003, next year.

‘Since U Been Gone’ singer Kelly – who’s received two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host – began fronting the programme in 2019.

“No one can take over for Ellen”

On the inevitable comparisons to TV veteran Ellen, the 39-year-old told the New York Times: “No one can take over for Ellen. It’s an iconic show.”

 
 
 
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The three-time Grammy-winner, known for hits like ‘Behind These Hazel Eyes’ and ‘Miss Independent’, then used other singers to illustrate why such comparisons are pointless.

“I’m never going to be Whitney Houston — I’m never going to be Cyndi Lauper, Reba [McEntire] or Trisha [Yearwood] or Mariah [Carey].

“I’m going to be me. I think that’s fine. There’s room for everyone at the table.”

Elsewhere in the interview, the star also discussed the experience of making a TV show during the coronavirus pandemic.

“From Season 1, we’ve had to reinvent it,” she said. “We’ve never had, really, a moment with our show where it’s like everything’s going to plan.”

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