Between being the inaugural winner of American Idol, touring, living in the public eye, and more recently hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show and being a coach on The Voice; Kelly Clarkson has earnestly worked her way into our eyes, ears, and hearts. She took a break from her new residency, Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions, after only two performances to care for her children in the wake of their father’s passing in August. Now, with the release of new November dates, she returns to the stage of the Colosseum at Caesars Palace to give her fans a glimpse behind the scenes, in a show that not only visually emulates a recording session in her studio but also features no pre-recorded tracks.
As Clarkson explained from the stage on opening night, “If there are seven guitars in a song, it’s hard to cover with two guitarists on stage,” which is why Studio Sessions features more than 20 musicians on stage at various times.
Don’t expect backup dancers, pyrotechnics, or wardrobe changes (except for the encore, for which Clarkson changed from her bedazzled Stevie Nicks t-shirt and a pair of flared black pants with colorful embellishments into an ivory Bob Mackie-esque gown of “nude illusion” covered in sequins, beads, and marabou feathers that channeled some of the great Las Vegas residency artists, like Cher and Diana Ross, but in a thoroughly Kelly way). As a Kelly Clarkson residency should be, this is all about the songs and the stories behind them.
In fact, the VH-1 Storytellers-like aspect of the show is the reason for its length, as roughly thirty percent of the two-hour show involved Clarkson doing crowd work, enthusiastically bantering with her audience.
And while the hits—think “Since U Been Gone,” “Catch My Breath,” “Miss Independent,” “My Life Would Suck Without You,” and “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”—are the highpoints of the show, the deeper cuts from her catalogue beautifully fill out the setlist.
Clarkson has also announced that on each of the sixteen dates of her Studio Sessions residency, she would be performing a “Kellyoke” cover during her encore. Opening night, she delivered a glorious cover of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” with some Whitney Houston stylings for added flavor. Suffice it to say, she slayed.
For those of you looking to make a night of it, get yourself a dinner reservation at Peter Luger Steak House; because what pairs better with a concert by the Ur-American Idol, herself, than a thoroughly American steak dinner? Chef de cuisine Alex Huizar is a pro, and the menu is an ode to the simplicity of steakhouse dining. Jump right in with three of my fave starters: the Sliced Tomatoes & Onions with Luger’s Own Sauce, Luger’s Sizzling Bacon, and the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. Then (depending on the size of your party and your appetites) opt for the Single Steak, or the Steak for Two, Three, or Four. And for those of you wanting to end on a sweet note, the “Holy Cow” Hot Fudge Sundae is always a treat. NOTE: The Colosseum at Caesars Palace does not allow outside food, so don’t plan on taking any leftovers with you to the concert.
November 2025 show dates: 7, 8, 14, 15 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace