Kelly Clarkson’s Controversial Outfits Spark Debate

In February 2023, Kelly Clarkson was invited to host and perform at the NFL Honors ahead of Super Bowl LVII, and she wasn’t afraid to show her support for her team, the Dallas Cowboys (she’s a Texas native, after all). She wore an intricate ball gown designed by Studio Unbiased, with the bodice mimicking the silhouette of a football jersey with all of the padding. The hoop skirt billowed out into an elaborate train, riddled with decals of the players’ last names, including “Martin,” “Lawrence,” and “Schultz.”

Those who happen to live at the intersection of being fans of both Clarkson and the Cowboys found amusement in the garment; however, not everyone can say the same. Though this is certainly a more costume-y look for Clarkson, the silhouette with the shoulder pads and large skirt didn’t give the star any room to breathe, and all the fabric made it appear frumpy. But the real issue is that singling out one team seems biased for an event meant to honor the franchise. Some viewers agreed with our qualms, as one wrote under her Instagram post of the look, “Not sure about the dress Kelly x.” Additionally, the “Miss Independent” singer posted a few snaps of herself alongside some NFL legends, prompting one user to retort, “Stupid dress!”

Kelly Clarkson’s appearance as a host on “The Voice” has been mostly met with praise. Back in 2019, she wrote that her looks on the show were “one of the top trending female celeb looks” of the year on Instagram. However, they likely weren’t always trending for good reason, as one ensemble she wore in the judging chair that December had fans calling for her stylist to be fired.

She wore a dress designed by Alex Perry, which consisted of a silk black shirt, tight black pants, and boots. Over the shirt was a single-sleeved red sequined wrap dress with a flowing side train. If it sounds like it was two completely different looks thrown on top of each other, that’s precisely what it was. Poor styling aside, some found it odd that she dressed in the show’s promotional colors, as she blended right in with her judging chair. She does know the contestants are supposed to see her, right?

Under her Instagram post in the questionable ensemble, one joked, “Who the h*** dresses this girl and do they do it in total darkness or … ” Another added, “I thought this was another chair.”

Kelly Clarkson may have gotten a bit too into character for the 2022 CMAs. The “Catch My Breath” singer wore head-to-toe denim in an Alexander McQueen dress, black tights, and Zimmermann boots. The amount of material on the dress alone is overwhelming, as it’s oversized and modeled after a button-up jean jacket, with a high-low hemline. Many called Clarkson out for this particular look, as it came during a period when her outfits were under scrutiny for aging her and creating an unflattering silhouette, and because it was a bit too toned down for an awards show.

During the show, Clarkson performed  “You’re Drunk, Go Home” with Kelsea Ballerini and Carly Pearce, and though Clarkson is only about 10 years older than the other women, she seemed like the grandmother of the group. Ballerini wore a minidress and Pearce was in a romper: both light-blue, form-fitting silhouettes with boots. It’s giving a mom chaperoning her two daughters. One user commented under her Instagram post, “I’m sorry …. But this outfit looks like Walmart. You are so beautiful… you deserve a better stylist!” Another remarked, “Needs someone to dress her for her age and body type!! She always looks weighted down in big bulky clothes and shoes! Sorry, I love her to death!!”

Kelly Clarkson got invited to perform at the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting in November 2023, and while she tried to bring the holiday spirit with her ensemble, not everyone was impressed. For the event, Clarkson bundled up with a black high-neck dress and matching boots, wearing a white fur coat cinched with a belt. She went all out with the festive makeup, with a red lip and dewy skin. She finished the look off with a messy top knot with long fringe bangs — a staple of Kelly Clarkson’s stunning hair transformation over the years. Many voiced how stunning the singer looked during her performance; however, some did have a few choice words for her outerwear.

While the “American Idol” alum never addressed whether the coat was made of real fur, viewers made their assumptions and were not thrilled. Clarkson posted a behind-the-scenes video of the lighting, under which one commented, “#FurHag so sad… so disappointed. You were such a nice person with great energy. I can’t believe you don’t care.” Shortly following the initial video, Clarkson posted a carousel of photos closely detailing her outfit and makeup for the night, under which one remarked, “People wearing Fur Suck.” Regardless of being completely bundled up, Clarkson couldn’t escape being viewed as inappropriate by those with differing values.

In December 2020, Kelly Clarkson brought the sleigh bells to the soundstage with three different winter looks on her show, which she posted on Instagram. One of those, however, might’ve been at least partially placed in the wrong season. She decided on an ankle-length black dress with gold accents and a mock neckline, pairing it with an open-toed heel. Yep, you heard that right: a turtleneck with sandals. Whether it’s hot or cold in that studio, we may never know. The excessive amount of material on the dress cascades down to her ankles, where her feet poke out, making for an odd ensemble proportionally.

Though most of the look was seasonally appropriate, this one just didn’t make sense cohesively. One viewer expressed, “Please for the love of fashion get her a new stylist.” Another wrote, “South Africa would like to send you a stylist, for free.” While plenty of people commented how much they loved the dress itself, we’re too thrown by the disharmony to really appreciate it.