On Monday, March 3, 2025, the unusual absence of Kelly Clarkson from her talk show created quite the buzz, as fans speculated on her whereabouts. Instead of Clarkson, Simu Liu, known recently for his role in the film Last Breath, stepped onto the set as the guest host, bringing with him guests such as Woody Harrelson, Finn Cole, and Brenda Song.
The official Instagram account for The Kelly Clarkson Show posted several images of Liu engaging with the guests, drawing attention with the caption: "@simuliu is taking over to interview his #LastBreath costars @WoodyHarrelson and @Finn_Cole! PLUS @brendasong and the ladies of @technovationglobal!" Fans quickly took to the comment section to express their confusion and concern, asking, "Where is Queen Kelly?? 😭😭" and echoing sentiments like, "where is queen kelly" and "Where is @kellyclarkson ??".
Despite the absence of the show's main attraction, Liu garnered support from the audience with remarks indicating his unplanned takeover. "Now, before we get things started, I do have a confession to make. I am not Kelly Clarkson," Liu quipped humorously, immediately addressing the elephant in the room. He continued, "I know this may shock many of you, but Kelly, actually, isn't able to make it today. We're sending her our very best." His lighthearted approach helped set the tone for the episode.
Liu later elaborated on the sudden change, mentioning, "Here's the thing. I did not know I was doing this until about five minutes ago when I arrived here to promote my new movie, Last Breath, which is in theaters right now." While his unanticipated hosting may have caught viewers off-guard, his demeanor appeared to soothe the audience's worries.
Scheduled guests for the rest of the week include celebrities like Jason Derulo, Michael Strahan, Denise Richards, and Wanda Sykes, keeping enthusiasm high for future episodes.
Shifting gears from entertainment to philanthropy, another significant part of the day's news highlights the nonprofit organization Refresh, headquartered in Frisco. Founded by Erin Watkins in 2019, Refresh aims to provide hygiene products to students who often face barriers during their middle and high school years. The nonprofit has expanded its reach and now serves over 2,200 students.
Watkins shared her motivation: "At the time I had boys who were in middle and high school and that's just a very vulnerable age. There's a lot of self-confidence issues at this age and I wanted to make sure every kid in our community could have access to these products and feel good about themselves." To this end, Refresh has developed seven customized hygiene packs to cater to the varying needs of children from Pre-K through high school, including menstruation products aimed at teen girls.
Kristin Cagle, the Executive Director of Refresh, noted, "Our enrollment numbers are off the charts. We're serving about 700 more at this time than we were last year." The organization's focus on personal hygiene products validates its mission. Cagle continued, "When kids feel good about themselves on the outside it helps them to feel good on the inside." The challenge now lies with balancing this rapid growth and meeting the rising demand across multiple North Texas communities.
To tackle this growing need, Refresh has collaborated with local school districts to provide packs at no charge to students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, distributing the hygiene bags every three months. The organization is also set to appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show shortly, hoping to utilize the platform to raise awareness and inspire others to replicate the model in their own communities. Cagle expressed optimism, stating, "We’re really hopeful other people around the country will see what they’re doing and want to model something similar in their communities."
Both stories resonate today, showcasing how entertainment can intersect with social good, allowing platforms like The Kelly Clarkson Show to facilitate discussions around important societal issues like teenage self-esteem and community support initiatives. The excitement surrounding Liu's guest hosting may open new doors for organizations like Refresh, bridging the gaps between casual viewers and those making tangible differences.