Seeing The Kelly Clarkson Show
Finally saw a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show at the iconic Studio 6-A. Here's the tea and some tips if you've never been.
Hey fellow Clarkstan! 👋 Welcome to NOTHING BUT CLARKSON — a newsletter all about Emmy and Grammy winner (and rad human) Kelly Clarkson. This week, I’m recapping my experience finally seeing a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show in NYC.
My Experience at The Kelly Clarkson Show
Y’all, it finally happened: I went to a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show.
A few weeks ago, I flew to New York City to see Beyoncé and take a much-needed vacation. It wasn’t my first time in NYC, but I’d never been to a taping of Kelly’s show — so a couple weeks before the trip, I rolled the dice and applied to be in the audience.
Here’s how it went down.
🎟 Applying to see The Kelly Clarkson Show
To snag a spot, I applied through 1iota.com. It’s free and easy — you fill in your name, email, and a short blurb on why you want to attend.
There were two tapings that fit my schedule (Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons), so I applied for both.
A few days later, I got an invite to the Tuesday taping. Yay!! But here’s where I messed up: I didn’t check my email until later that evening… and by the time I clicked the confirmation link, it was already full. Devastated.
I kept checking the 1iota site just in case, and lo and behold, a few days later the Tuesday slot reopened for me. I confirmed right away. 😅
Pro tips if you’re applying to be part of The Kelly Clarkson Show audience:
Watch your inbox like a hawk
Check the site often
Confirm immediately
As for the Wednesday taping — I never heard back in time. I eventually cancelled the request and made other plans. (It turns out that episode was for the Teddy Swims episode of the Songs & Stories primetime series — so either the show was way too popular or they were running behind approving requests.)
Day of the taping
Fast forward to show day. Obviously, I was HYPED. The 1iota email said to arrive by 1 PM, so I got to the area around noon… but made the mistake of stopping at Shake Shack for lunch. I ended up arriving at 30 Rock closer to 12:40 — and by then, the line was already forming. Rookie move.
By 1:15, they started letting people in. To get through security, we showed ID, our 1iota confirmation, and had our bags scanned.
By 2 pm., most of us were inside the Peacock Lounge — a colorful space filled with show memorabilia and a photobooth.
The crowd was super diverse: lots of moms, sure, but also plenty of young folks, tourists, and a healthy dose of gay dudes. LOL. Kelly’s fanbase is wide.
Inside the studio
Around 2:30, a staffer explained that we’d be admitted to the studio alphabetically based on our ticket letters. Mine was in the N or M range — so, naturally, I knew I was doomed. 😂
We were also told that cell phones were absolutely not allowed in the studio and rule-breakers would be booted. Duly noted.
We took the elevator up to Studio 6A, and by 2:50, everyone was seated. I was, indeed, way in the back.
A hype guy (who was fantastic — wish I remembered his name) kept the energy up and handed out some prizes. He also gave us cues on when to clap, cheer, or stand.
Then… Kelly walked in and the place erupted. People love our girl. She was in her signature look: jeans and a concert tee.
They taped segments out of order — starting with interviews, then recurring segments (Morning Save and What I’m Liking), and finally, Kellyoke.
🎤 The guests
I saw a fantastic lineup of guests:
Julianne Moore was warm and chatty, promoting her new Apple+ movie with Sydney Sweeney. She felt very genuine, and even said complimentary things to the audience member who had to intro the first break.
Sam Nivola from White Lotus was sweet and charming, though you could tell he was a tad nervous.
Jessica Kirson, the comedian, closed things out with big laughs. Loved her.
Lawrence Zarian came out during the Morning Save segment, and then Kelly interviewed the NYC governor for What I’m Liking. (An audience member got to take home the $1,000 cash from Pilot pen — unfortunately I wasn’t that said lucky audience member. 😭)
And then it was time for Kellyoke!
Kelly and the band performed “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover” by Sophie B. Hawkins. I didn’t know the song beforehand, but by the end, I couldn’t get the chorus out of my head. And, by the way, Kelly and the band nailed that performance in one flawless take — super impressive! I was hoping they’d make a few mistakes so I could hear them several times, but alas, they did so good that one take was all it took.
Kelly gave a quick wave goodbye, and just like that, the taping was over. On the way out, they handed us coupons for the NBC store, which I immediately used to grab the coveted Kelly Clarkson vinyl tee.
I was out of 30 Rock by around 5:15 PM — all told, a 4.5-hour experience.
Final Thoughts
Would I recommend going to a taping of The Kelly Clarkson Show? Absolutely. Especially if you’re a Kelly stan — you gotta do it at least once.
A few closing tips if you ever plan on going:
Pick a taping with guests you love
Show up earlier than you think you need to
Block off at least half a day
Not sure if I’ll get to go again — NYC isn’t exactly a quick or cheap trip from Vancouver — but I’m so glad I made it happen. Seeing Kelly and her Emmy-winning team work their magic was unforgettable.
ONE LAST THING…
Go stream “Where Have You Been” by Kelly Clarkson on your favorite streaming app!