Kelly Clarkson has been going through a rough time lately, but her dear friend Pink was there to fill in on The Kelly Clarkson Show for her. The good news for fans is that this has led to some absolutely legendary performances from Pink on the show. On March 7, 2026, Pink performed Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” with just her longtime guitarist Justin Derrico playing acoustic for accompaniment. The pair created a unique and breathtaking rendition of the 1984 classic.
It really seems like “Time After Time” was just begging to be stripped back like this – it sounds so perfect. Pink was the perfect singer to do it too. That’s because she has the vocal chops to hit all the right notes, but also knows not to overdo it and to focus on the emotions of the song. The Music Man has to say that fans were really lucky to hear this intimate rendition of “Time After Time” from Pink and Justin!
When The Kelly Clarkson Show YouTube channel uploaded Pink’s take on “Time After Time,” it hit 463,000 views within a month. Viewers loved the cover and added comments such as “This is by far the best cover of this song I’ve ever heard. I actually like it better than the original and I love the original” and “Finally, people are recognizing how Pink’s voice is one of the most versatile there is. She’s just always on pitch, and her tone fits a lot of genres!”
Pink delivered several memorable performances during her recent stint hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show. Another popular performance was her rendition of Sienna Spiro’s “Die On This Hill.” Pink worked with Justin on electric guitar and her longtime musical director, Jason Chapman, playing piano on this number. Pink brought some dramatic vocals to this performance, delivering some emotional high-range vocals that really hit the spot.
Pink stepped in to host The Kelly Clarkson Show for the week of March 2, 2026. Kelly did not directly address why she was away from the show during this period. Kelly previously announced that she is planning to end the show in the US fall of 2026, citing the desire to have more time with her kids, so perhaps this reason was also behind her taking the week off. Kelly’s family has been under pressure recently, with the August 7, 2025, death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. Kelly and Brandon shared two children, and the tragedy no doubt played a part in Kelly’s decision to end The Kelly Clarkson Show.