Kelly Clarkson Weight Loss: Inspiring Before and After Photos

In recent days, three-time Grammy Award-winner and talkshow host, Kelly Clarkson has been showing off a dramatic weight loss, and everyone is excited to find out what she’s been doing to shed the pounds.

On an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, that aired on November 6th, the 41-year-old mom of two got real with Jenna Bush Hager and her twin siser Barbara Bush about their ever-changing bodies and their “chubby days.” Clarkson confessed that she’s “had many stages” of being heavier than she would have liked.

“I love losing weight,” Clarkson said to Jenna and Barbara with a laugh, “but here’s the thing … jeans are so hard when you have a butt and a smaller waist.” The struggle is real!

Kelly Clarkson, June 2023 (left) and October 2023 (right)Theo Wargo /Cindy Ord/ Getty

The “Since You’ve Been Gone” singer has been open about her weight loss journey through the years — including admitting she suffered from bulimia in high school and addressing the hurtful criticism she’s received for her weight. “For 15 years of my life, no matter if I’m really thin or really not, [weight was] always a point of discussion,” she told Rolling Stone in 2017. “Even when I was on Idol, it was a discussion.”

Clarkson explained on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2015 that she “was the biggest girl” in the first season of American Idol, which she won in 2002. “And I wasn’t [actually] big, but people would call me big… I’ve kind of always gotten that.”

Kelly Clarkson poses for her American Idol season 1 finalist portrait in 2002Ray Mickshaw/WireImage/Getty Images

And while the comments got to her at times, Clarkson has found comfort in the fact that everyone’s body changes through our lives, and that’s okay. “It’s like, you’re just who you are. We are who we are. Whatever size, and it doesn’t mean that we’re gonna be that forever,” she continued to say on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2015. “That’s the thing. Sometimes we’re more fit. Like especially me, I’m such a creative person that I yo-yo. So sometimes I’m more fit and I get into kickboxing hardcore. And then sometimes I don’t, and I’m like… I’d rather have wine.”

Carrying the flag of acceptance

Clarkson has also said that she feels called to speak out about the constant criticism of women’s bodies. “The media has always been obsessed with [my size]. And I have felt conflicted over the years. Do you address it? Do you talk about it? Because then you just add to the noise,” Clarkson said in an interview with Daily Mail in 2017. “But people like me [need] to talk about it, so I don’t really mind carrying that flag. I love that people come up to me and say: ‘Because you are comfortable in your skin, you have made me more comfortable in mine.’ That’s the best compliment ever.”

Whether the number on the scale is up or down Clarkson has learned a valuable lesson: “I don’t obsess about my weight, which is probably one of the reasons why other people have such a problem with it,” she told Redbook in 2015. And Clarkson even channeled this acceptance into her music, specifically with her 2017 hit, “Whole Lotta Woman.”

“It was fun to write a song that said, ‘Yeah, you’re right, I am a whole lot of woman, and it’s ok,” said to Rolling Stone. “I came with a brain, and I came with drive and passion and sensuality, and these things that are awesome. If you can’t handle it, that’s totally cool, but you’re not tall enough to ride this ride, then move along. It’s fine.’ We put a fun twist on it.”

Regardless of where Kelly Clarkson is at in her weight loss journey, she has been an advocate for women feeling confident, proud and beautiful — no matter their weight.

And we agree 100 percent.