Kelly Clarkson has insisted she could never "take over" from Ellen DeGeneres.
Kelly Clarkson
The 'Breakaway' hitmaker's eponymous talk show will move into the slot vacated by the 'Finding Dory' star's programme when she steps down after 19 years next spring but Kelly doesn't feel worthy of being compared to the broadcast legend.
She insisted: “No one can take over for Ellen. It’s an iconic show."
Kelly argued her presenting efforts shouldn't be compared to those who came before her, much like her singing abilities shouldn't be contrasted against those of her idols.
She told the New York Times newspaper: “I’m never going to be Whitney Houston — I’m never going to be Cyndi Lauper, Reba or Trisha or Mariah.
“I’m going to be me. I think that’s fine. There’s room for everyone at the table.”
The 39-year-old star was convinced "no one" would want to watch her show, even thought "everybody" was telling her how great a presenter she'd make before she signed on for her programme.
She said: “Everybody was like, Oh man, you would be great at doing a talk show — except for me, I wasn’t one of those everybodies. I’m just like, Where do I fit in there? Why would I? No one will watch that.
“I’m very honest with myself.”
But Kelly admitted her stint on 'American Idol' - which she won in 2002 - had helped prepare her for the daytime show because she's always comfortable on camera.
She explained: “We were on TV all the time. Doing random things — being interviewed, interviewing other people, doing skits.
“I don’t really feel pressure from [the camera]. That can be scary for other people sometimes, like, Oh God, what’s she going to say?”
Last March, the 'Behind These Hazel Eyes' singer - who has children River, seven, and Remington, five, with estranged husband Brandon Blackstock - saw in-studio production of the show halted due to the coronavirus pandemic but Kelly continued to film new segments on an iPhone from the cabin in Montana where she was staying with her family, and she admitted things didn't always run smoothly.
She said: “We were in the middle of nowhere. The dryer broke. We’re going to the bathroom in the woods at some point.
"I’m 5’3” and a half, dude. I’m in snow up to my thighs. And I’m like, well, I have a camera.
“I’m trying to be America’s cheerleader. And I never completely broke down about it, but I definitely laughed hysterically at several moments.”
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