Kelly Clarkson just made one of her biggest hair changes in years, trading her familiar longer locks for a dramatically shorter bob.
The 44-year-old singer stepped out with a fresh chin-length haircut during a busy day of television appearances on Sept. 21, 2026. Clarkson showed off the new style on “Today” before taking the look to “Late Night with Seth Meyers” later that evening. The haircut marks one of the shortest styles she has worn in years and arrives at a particularly transitional moment in her career.
© Paula Lobo/NBC via Getty ImagesAnd this time, the bob appears to be the real deal.
Kelly Clarkson’s New Bob Is Her Shortest Haircut in Years
Clarkson’s new haircut sits around chin length, creating a major contrast with the longer hair she had been wearing in recent months.
For her “Today” appearance, the singer wore the short bob with plenty of texture and curls, along with a deep side part. Later, during her interview with Seth Meyers, she switched up the styling with softer, looser waves. The two looks showed just how versatile the shorter cut can be.
Clarkson also confirmed that she really did go for the chop. “I chopped my hair off recently,” she told Meyers, adding that she likes wearing it short.
© Paula Lobo/NBC via Getty ImagesKelly Clarkson Previously Faked a Short Bob
Fans may remember Clarkson appearing with what looked like a dramatically shorter hairstyle on “The Voice” in the past. That transformation, however, involved some hairstyling trickery rather than a permanent haircut.
Clarkson previously explained that hairstylist Robert Ramos was able to create the illusion of a bob by braiding most of her longer hair and strategically styling the remaining pieces. The effect was convincing enough that many viewers believed she had actually cut her hair.
© Trae Patton/NBC via Getty ImagesHer latest transformation is different. Clarkson has also credited Ramos for her current look.
The shorter hairstyle had actually started attracting attention before Clarkson's Sept. 21 television appearances. She performed at a private Coca-Cola event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Sept. 11 wearing a tousled short bob with red pants and a sparkling Blondie T-shirt.
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© Lester CohenKelly Clarkson’s Haircut Comes After the End of Her Talk Show
The timing of Kelly Clarkson’s new haircut is also getting attention because it follows another significant change in her life.
“The Kelly Clarkson Show” aired its final episode on Aug. 31 after seven seasons. Less than a month later, Clarkson arrived on television with her freshly cut bob while discussing what life looks like without the demanding schedule of a daily daytime show.
© Trae Patton/NBC via Getty ImagesClarkson told the “Today” hosts that it feels unusual to live in New York without working a traditional daily schedule. She said she has been spending more time taking her children to school, picking them up and focusing on family life.
The singer shares daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander with her late ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
Clarkson said the change in routine has allowed the family to spend more time together, describing the experience as “really, really good for us.”
Kelly Clarkson Is Returning to Music and The Voice
Leaving daytime television does not mean Clarkson is stepping away from the spotlight. She has returned to “The Voice” as a coach for Season 30 alongside Adam Levine, Queen Latifah and Riley Green. Clarkson is also looking toward more live music opportunities now that she no longer has the schedule demands of a daily talk show.
© Trae Patton/NBC via Getty ImagesShe is scheduled to make her Stagecoach debut in 2027, another sign that performing is becoming a bigger part of her schedule again.
During her recent interviews, Clarkson also reflected on the final Kellyoke performance from her talk show. She closed the long-running segment with “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters,” explaining that the difficult song required far more preparation than many of her usual performances.
Between “The Voice,” upcoming performances and a significantly more flexible schedule, Clarkson appears to be entering a different professional chapter.
