EXCLUSIVE: KELLY CLARKSON PUTTING ON A BRAVE FACE — BUT FRIENDS SAY “SHE’S IN BAD SHAPE”
PLUS: HODA KOTB TRADES JENNA BUSH FOR JOANNA GAINES, AND JENNIFER GARNER CUTS TIES WITH JENNIFER LOPEZ — FIRMLY TEAM BEN
EXCLUSIVE: KELLY CLARKSON STRUGGLING BEHIND THE SCENES
Kelly Clarkson may be back on stage in Las Vegas — but don’t be fooled by the smile.
#ShuterScoop has learned that the “Stronger” singer’s return to her residency this weekend comes amid serious behind-the-scenes struggles. While Kelly, 43, told fans she’d been sidelined by illness, insiders say the truth runs much deeper.
“She’s not telling the whole story,” reveals a close friend. “This isn’t just about her voice. She’s in bad shape — physically, emotionally, mentally.”
Sources say Kelly is battling severe exhaustion, vocal strain, and what one insider calls “a storm of unresolved personal pain,” tied to her brutal divorce from Brandon Blackstock and the ongoing legal fallout.
“She’s trying to be everything to everyone,” says the source. “She sings her heart out night after night, then goes home and plays supermom — but it’s too much.”
Those close to the star say she’s been urged to slow down or risk complete burnout. “There are whispers about vocal surgery,” another insider adds. “And her team is walking on eggshells.”
Behind the curtain, friends describe a woman unraveling under pressure.
“She’s trying so hard to be strong,” says one pal. “But the cracks are showing — and they’re getting harder to hide.”
EXCLUSIVE: HODA KOTB DUMPS JENNA BUSH FOR JOANNA GAINES — NEW BEST FRIEND ALERT!
Is Hoda Kotb trading Today Show banter for Magnolia calm?
Insiders tell #ShuterScoop that the 59-year-old anchor has quietly forged a fast friendship with Joanna Gaines — and it’s already reshaping her future.
“Hoda and Joanna are getting really close,” one source shares. “They’ve been bonding over wellness, home life, motherhood. Hoda’s texting her constantly.”
The timing isn’t lost on NBC insiders, who’ve noticed a shift in Hoda’s energy — and her ambitions.
“Jenna [Bush Hager] is still around, but the vibe is different,” says one production staffer. “Hoda’s been talking about launching a lifestyle brand — and Joanna is the blueprint.”
The two have been tossing around ideas for a podcast, a product line, even a collaborative book. “Joanna’s influence is all over Hoda right now,” says a friend. “It’s softer, more grounded. Less studio, more soul.”
While Hoda hasn’t made any official moves yet, multiple insiders say the writing is on the wall: the former Today sisterhood is evolving — and Gaines may be Kotb’s new partner in purpose.
EXCLUSIVE: JENNIFER GARNER AND JENNIFER LOPEZ NO LONGER SPEAK — GARNER FIRMLY TEAM BEN AFTER DIVORCE
Jennifer Garner has drawn her line in the sand — and Jennifer Lopez isn’t on the same side.
#ShuterScoop can confirm that the two Jennifers are no longer speaking following Ben Affleck’s split from Lopez earlier this year. Sources say Garner, 52, has made it crystal clear: her loyalty is with Ben.
“She’s Team Ben, 100%,” says one friend. “She was there before, during, and after Bennifer — and now she’s back in his corner in a big way.”
Garner publicly kept the peace during Affleck’s whirlwind reunion and brief marriage to Lopez, but insiders say the dynamic was strained from day one.
“She never trusted it,” a source admits. “She smiled for the kids, but behind closed doors, there was tension. She felt like J.Lo stirred up chaos — and Ben doesn’t need chaos.”
Affleck and Lopez finalized their divorce in January after a months-long separation, and Garner has stepped in as a steadying force for both Ben and their three children.
“She’s not angling for a romantic reunion,” says one insider. “But she’s always had his back — and Lopez felt that shift. That’s why they’re done.”
The double-Jen détente? Officially over.
#ShuterScoop