Kelly Clarkson Ends Kellyoke With a Showstopper, Singing ‘Golden’

Kelly Clarkson knows how to make an exit. For her final “Kellyoke” performance, she did not simply pick a song and call it a day. She went for one of the biggest requests from fans, took on a song known for its sky-high vocals and left the stage with a little musical sparkle.

In the final episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show on Monday, Aug. 31, Clarkson, 44, sang her last cover for the fan-favorite “Kellyoke” segment. The song was “the most requested cover song EVER,” according to the series’ social media.

And the choice? “Golden,” the Oscar-winning hit from KPop Demon Hunters.

Considering the song’s demanding vocal range, Clarkson certainly did not choose the easy way out.

For the final taping, Clarkson performed “Kelly by Request,” a concert featuring storytelling and fan-requested songs from her catalog. She also gave viewers performances of some of her own hits, including “Piece by Piece,” “Since U Been Gone” and “Stronger.”

But when it came time for the final Kellyoke track, Clarkson turned to “Golden,” a song that has become a major fan favorite since its appearance in the Netflix movie.

Clarkson had already shown some love for KPop Demon Hunters earlier this year when she put her own spin on “What It Sounds Like.” This time, however, she took on “Golden” in its original key.

That was no small task.

Throughout the performance, Clarkson hit high note after high note, proving once again why fans have spent years tuning in to hear her sing. Several fans pointed out just how difficult the song is in comments on Instagram and YouTube.

Even Clarkson seemed very aware of what she had signed herself up for.

“That is a very high song,” Clarkson said of “Golden” with a laugh in a clip shared to Instagram. “I was like, ‘Go for it.’ ”

And go for it she did.

The final episode was about much more than singing. It was a goodbye to a show that had been part of viewers’ daily routines for seven years.

TKCS super fans, those impacted by the show’s charitable efforts and more spoke about what each song meant to them during the final taping. The idea was to make the farewell feel personal, with the audience helping shape the music.

Audience members were reminded throughout the finale that they were indeed the “last audience to see Kelly on this stage,” showrunner and executive producer Alex Duda told PEOPLE ahead of Monday’s conclusion.

“We just tried to make it be a celebration, especially that last episode, tried to make that be for the fans and help them help us say goodbye,” Duda told PEOPLE. “And for seven years, we listened to them like, ‘What songs did you want to hear and what moments did you want to see again?’ So it seemed like the right thing to do was to do a whole show that was by request.”

That approach made sense for a show that built much of its charm around Clarkson connecting with her audience. After all, “Kellyoke” was never just about the singer picking a random song. Fans had plenty of opinions about what they wanted to hear, and Clarkson spent years giving them plenty of memorable performances.

For the finale, the requests became part of the goodbye.

Clarkson first revealed her decision to step back as a daytime host after seven seasons of her Emmy-winning, eponymous talk show in February.

The reason was an important one: She wanted to prioritize her two children, River Rose and Remington Alexander, whom she shares with her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

By the end of the final show, her children were right there with her.

Clarkson was joined by River Rose, 12, and Remington Alexander, 10, as she reflected on the catchphrase she has used to close every episode: “Have a great day. And if it’s not, change it!”

For seven years, those words became a familiar part of the show. In her final remarks, Clarkson explained why the message has always mattered to her.

“I want to thank everyone on our staff, our crew, my band, the viewers and every single guest who joined us on our show,” she began. “For seven years, I’ve ended each episode by saying, ‘Have a great day. And if it’s not, change it.’ I say that because, while we have to accept that life is totally out of our control, each moment, though, truly depends on how we choose to respond and react to it.”

Clarkson then offered fans a little advice, along with a reminder that sometimes protecting your peace means simply refusing to join the drama.

“You don’t have to attend the negative party you were invited to,” Clarkson continued. “I’ve been told by a therapist, so there ya go. And if you remind yourself once a day that you have that choice to respond how you really want to be and who you really are inside, I promise that habit is going to become part of you and your life will respond to you in return.”

It was a fitting message for the end of an era. The show may have been leaving the daytime lineup, but Clarkson's words suggested that saying goodbye does not have to mean losing everything that made the experience special.

Clarkson's final moments on The Kelly Clarkson Show were filled with gratitude.

After seven seasons of celebrity interviews, musical performances, jokes, stories and plenty of unexpected moments, she took time to thank the people who helped make the show happen.

Continuing her closing TKCS remarks, Clarkson said she “loved being in your homes each day.”

“I loved seeing my kiddos grow up on this show as well,” she continued. “I have immeasurable gratitude for everybody, the crew, the band, the audience, the viewers, thank you so much. This has been an incredible opportunity.”

And then, after seven years, the curtain finally came down.

Still, if Clarkson was going to leave the Kellyoke era behind, ending it with “Golden” feels pretty appropriate. She took on one of the most requested songs, sang it in the original key and gave fans exactly what they came for: one more reminder that when Kelly Clarkson sees a high note, she is probably going to go for it.