Kelly Clarkson—pop-rock powerhouse, genre-defying icon, and emotional truth-teller—is gearing up to reclaim the live stage in a way that feels both nostalgic and revolutionary. On May 6, 2025, the Grammy winner will make her debut at NBC’s Today Show Citi Concert Series, headlining the 30th anniversary summer lineup with a brand-new single and a bold announcement about her musical future. It’s not just another performance for Clarkson—it’s a celebration of reinvention, resilience, and creative control.

Clarkson’s New Single “Where Have You Been” Unearths Joy from Familiar Longing

Dropping at midnight on May 2, Clarkson’s “Where Have You Been” arrived with the punch of a final boss in a superhero saga. Premiering her music video the next day on her own talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, the singer unveiled a love anthem inspired by a moment of pop-culture serendipity. As she revealed on her SiriusXM channel, the spark for the track came from a line in Only Murders in the Building—when Martin Short’s character asks Meryl Streep’s character, “Where have you been?”

“I was in awe,” Clarkson said. “And I was like, ‘Has anyone written a song?’” The result is a joyous, hopeful track that turns the phrase into a celebration of finding something (or someone) long thought to be a unicorn. It’s a moment of emotional excavation turned euphoric, much like much of her best work.

“Where Have You Been” is more than a single—it’s her first original release since 2023 and the first to come out under her own label. A move that, for fans paying attention, feels like Tony Stark suiting up for the first time without Stark Industries backing him.

Independent and Unstoppable: Kelly Clarkson’s Silent Label Launch Speaks Volumes

While the music industry watched, Clarkson quietly built her own empire. The label she’s long kept under the radar now stands at the center of her next chapter. Releasing “Where Have You Been” independently, she’s taken full control of her artistic direction—a freedom that’s often elusive for even the biggest names in the business.

This isn’t just a business move. It’s a narrative twist. After a decade of commercial success, television stardom, and personal evolution, Clarkson is stepping off the familiar path and onto one she’s forging herself. It’s the kind of move that echoes through fandoms and industries alike—like when a beloved superhero exchanges their trademark suit for a new, self-designed armor.

Catalyst of Creation: From Chemistry to a New Emotional Universe

Clarkson’s 2023 album Chemistry offered fans a raw, cinematic look at her emotional landscape during her marriage and divorce with Brandon Blackstock. Each track was a bullet point in the story of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Now, with “Where Have You Been,” we’re seeing the next chapter—one not defined by pain, but by hope, wonder, and emotional rebirth.

Inspired by a TV moment, fueled by personal insight, and delivered with the vocal power only Clarkson can command, her new music feels like the start of a brand-new soundtrack to her life. And she’s doing it on her own terms.

The Rockefeller Plaza Debut That Feels Like a Comic-Con Mainstage Reveal

There’s something undeniably iconic about Clarkson’s May 6 performance at Rockefeller Plaza. Making her Citi Concert Series debut as the opening act of the season—alongside a lineup that includes Blake Shelton, the Jonas Brothers, and the Zac Brown Band—she’s not just part of the celebration. She’s kicking it off.

For a series that’s given fans live music moments for three decades, Clarkson’s inclusion this year feels like a perfect alignment. It’s her first time on the series, and she’s using the platform to launch new music, promote her independent status, and remind the world of her unshakable presence in pop culture.

Watching her perform in front of the fans at Rockefeller Plaza—many of whom likely grew up with her since her American Idol win in 2002—is like seeing a legendary franchise character return, not just alive, but leveled up. It’s Superman returning to Metropolis with a new suit and a sharper mission.

Kelly Clarkson’s Next Chapter Is Powered by Freedom, Fire, and Fierce Love

Kelly Clarkson’s story has always been about more than just belting hits. It’s about emotional honesty, personal strength, and evolving without losing yourself. With “Where Have You Been,” her independent release, and her Citi Concert Series debut, she’s not only giving fans another anthem—but she’s proving that creative freedom is the ultimate power move.

As she stands in the plaza that millions watch every morning, Clarkson isn’t just performing. She’s inaugurating her next era. And for a superstar who’s been through it all, that makes this moment — and every note she sings — feel truly unstoppable.