Kelly Clarkson and her musical director’s ensemble My Band Y’all delivered a live performance of “Golden” during the series finale of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Serving as the final installment of the popular Kellyoke segment, the performance carried a clear sense of occasion. According to the program, this was the single most-requested cover song in the history of the broadcast. By selecting the breakout anthem, Clarkson connected the end of her daytime television run with a deeply fan-driven choice.
This closing number was far more than a routine daytime performance. For seven seasons, The Kelly Clarkson Show offered a daily platform for live music, and the recurring cover-song segment became a defining showcase for Clarkson as both a singer and a host. The daytime series concluded following Clarkson’s announcement that she was stepping away from the program to prioritize spending more time with her children, setting the stage for this final broadcast moment.
Choosing the right song for this farewell required a selection that matched the musical legacy of the show. Clarkson, who holds the distinction of being the first United States American Idol winner and is a three-time Grammy Award recipient, approached the finale with her usual vocal precision. The Music Man readers will know she was joined by the program’s long-standing house ensemble, My Band Y’all, ensuring the final song was anchored by the musicians who helped build the segment’s stellar reputation.
For those unfamiliar with the track, “Golden” is the aspirational signature song from the 2025 animated musical fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters. The movie centers on fictional stars Rumi, Mira and Zoey, who form the global K-pop trio HUNTR/X while secretly battling supernatural forces. The crossover hit landed widely with audiences, providing an energetic and fittingly large-scale melody for the talk show to highlight before handing things over. Experience the original powerhouse vocal performance by HUNTR/X from the hit animated musical soundtrack.
Rather than a niche soundtrack reference, the track was a major cultural hit that earned its place in a series finale. It spent eight weeks at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media. Fans were quick to praise the live rendition online. One viewer noted, “She did it in the original key like it’s nothing! Kelly is truly a superhuman vocalist and the true American Idol”. Another fan added, “Her Korean pronunciation is spot-on, and don’t even get me started on her vocals”.
The online response demonstrated the combined appeal of the talk show and the animated film. By September 6, 2026, roughly six days after the broadcast, the official upload had accumulated more than 4.19 million views and more than 83,000 likes. The talk show signed off by giving viewers the cover they had requested most, making the performance both a celebration of a pop-culture hit and a fitting final demonstration of what the daily segment did best. In the end, a passionate fan request became the defining final musical statement of the series.