Kelly Clarkson has embraced a bold transformation by bidding farewell to her lengthy locks. As she joyfully announced her return to "The Voice" for its 29th season in Spring 2026, the mesmerizing voice behind "Behind These Hazel Eyes" also unveiled a fresh, shorter hairstyle, swapping her signature blonde waves for a chic, darker side-swept cut.
In a lively Instagram video posted on July 22, Kelly, accompanied by fellow returning coaches John Legend and Adam Levine, rocked a chic shoulder-length bob, pairing it with a relaxed white button-down shirt with an open collar, sleek black trousers, and matching black heels. With a mischievous glint in her eye, the 43-year-old teased, "This time, we've got a few surprises up our sleeve. Y'all better buckle up!"
Kelly, who shares her children, River Rose, 11, and Remington Alexander, 9, with her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, isn't the only member of the NBC family who's dared to take the plunge this summer. Last month, Jenna Bush Hager, the eponymous host of "Today With Jenna & Friends," was inspired by guest co-host Leslie Bibb's iconic bob and underwent a dramatic haircut live on air.
"This is my hair now," Jenna confessed to the "White Lotus" actress during the June 17 episode, while debuting her new 'do. "I feel a bit...like that '90s movie 'Single White Female,' where you try to emulate someone so closely. You made this haircut famous, and I even used your hairstylist, who's a star in their own right, to replicate it exactly. It's a bit surreal."
Though the former First Daughter may have harbored initial hesitations, Chris McMillan—the talented hairstylist behind Jenna's transformation and creator of Jennifer Aniston's iconic "Rachel" cut from "Friends"—explained that short hair is undeniably the trend of the summer. "Folks are opting for chops above the shoulders this season," the stylist revealed to E! News last month. "Despite its drama, it grows out beautifully. It becomes healthier, gets rid of dead ends and unwanted color, and adds layers. It's like giving your hair a fresh start."
