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On the 1,000th episode of her namesake talk show, Kelly Clarkson<\/strong><\/a> recalled how she\u2019d hosted the series in different cities, on a road trip, during a pandemic and through a \u201clot of ups and downs,\u201d some professional and some personal. \u201cI hosted the show with an eye-patch and with my leg in a cast,\u201d the \u201cStronger\u201d singer, 42, joked on the March 20 episode. Kelly did not comment on the fact that she\u2019d been absent from multiple episodes earlier in March, with the program helmed by a series of guests.<\/p>\n While that has some fans worried<\/a>, those close to Kelly see it as a sign she\u2019s getting better at maintaining a work-life balance. \u201cFriends say Kelly took time away to deal with a personal matter \u2014 a family health issue,\u201d an insider exclusively tells Life & Style<\/em>. \u201cTaking time for the things and people that are important to her has been a real struggle, but she is learning how to make time for herself again.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelly\u2019s schedule is grueling, with five shows a week, brand partnerships and prep for her upcoming Las Vegas residency, Studio Sessions. \u201cShe feels real pressure, especially to keep her TV show a hit,\u201d says the insider. But her 2023 decision to move the series from LA to New York has been a huge improvement for both her and her children \u2014 River, 10, and Remy, 8. \u201cKelly says she never felt truly at home in California,\u201d notes the insider. As the singer herself told Today, \u201cIt was just me and my kids all the way on that coast. All of my family lives on [the east] coast. So it just got lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n Now, it\u2019s simply a quick flight to visit her mom and siblings, reveals the insider. \u201cKelly and the kids are happier, and she\u2019s really taking time to make friends and build a life in NYC.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s no denying Kelly was devastated by her 2020 split from husband and manager Brandon Blackstock<\/strong><\/a>, 48, which led to contentious battles over money and property. She\u2019s finally getting the hang of coparenting , though. \u201cLike many moms, her life revolves around her children,\u201d says the insider. \u201c While Kelly still has a hard time when they leave to visit their father, she is finding ways to make that time enjoyable for herself.\u201d<\/p>\n Among Kelly\u2019s new focuses? Boosting her health<\/a>. Thanks to weight loss medication, as well as making fitness and nutrition more of a priority \u2014 she has dropped a reported 60 pounds. Dating again, however, is not at the top of her to-do list. Partly, because her kids are against it. \u201cThey\u2019re young,\u201d Kelly explained on KOST 103.5. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to picture their mom with someone else<\/a> other than their dad.\u201d<\/p>\n But who knows what the future might hold. Says the insider, \u201cKelly is still figuring out this next chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nKelly Clarkson Is \u2018Finding Ways\u2019 to Enjoy Herself<\/h2>\n