The Voice Season 29 Battle Rounds started Monday night (March 16), and fans immediately noticed that coach Kelly Clarkson was missing from rehearsals.
This season of The Voice has already shaken things up. Instead of the usual four coaches, there are three—all former winners. For the first time, one coach (Kelly Clarkson) has earned a Super Steal. Later in the season, a coach will also get the chance to bring an extra artist to the finale.
One of the biggest surprises so far? Kelly Clarkson wasn’t at her team’s Battle Round rehearsals. She asked fellow American Idol alum and former Voice coach Jennifer Hudson to step in for her.
Why did Kelly Clarkson miss Battle Round rehearsals?
The Battle Round episodes for The Voice: Battle of Champions were filmed in late summer of 2025. Clarkson had to step away after her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, passed away on August 7.
Brandon, who was Reba McEntire’s stepson, lost a three-year battle with skin cancer. He and Kelly married in 2013 and had two children together: River Rose and Remington. Kelly filed for divorce in 2020, which was finalized two years later.
The day before Brandon’s passing, Kelly shared that he had been sick and postponed her Las Vegas residency to spend time with their children.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas. While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them. I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” Kelly wrote at the time.
Kelly Clarkson’s Return to The Voice
Kelly came back to The Voice for her 10th non-consecutive season. As the winningest female coach in the show’s history, her return surprised many fans.
In 2023, she left the show to move her self-titled talk show to New York City. Even though she was a fan-favorite coach, her move made it seem unlikely she would ever sit in the iconic red chair again.
Fans were thrilled when she returned for Season 29 and were understanding when she had to step away to be with her children after Brandon’s death.
During Monday’s Battle Round, Kelly didn’t talk about Brandon’s passing. She simply said she “hated that she couldn’t be there” for rehearsals.
“I really hated that I couldn’t be there for Battle rehearsals, but I got to see the video footage,” Clarkson explained. “J. Hud left these notes for me and things she had the team work on, and it was amazing intel. Nothing beats live music, so that’s what I’m excited about.”
Watch Team Kelly’s Liv Ciara and Mikenley Brown’s Battle, which coach Adam Levine called “the best Battle Round I have ever heard,” in the video below.
