Where is Kelly Clarkson on her talk show? Inside her absence

Kelly Clarkson is stepping away from her hosting duties for now.

The "Since U Been Gone" singer has been gone from her "The Kelly Clarkson Show" for a week and guest hosts are stepping in to help host the talk show, now in its sixth season. Last week, action star and actor Simu Liu helped take the helm of the show while the "Catch My Breath" hitmaker was out.

"Kelly isn't able to make it today. We're sending her our very best," he said to the studio audience of the March 3 show. "I did not know that I was doing this until about five minutes ago when I arrived to promote my new movie 'Last Breath,'" adding, "I'm here now, and look, I'm not one to back down from a challenge."

USA TODAY has reached out to Clarkson's rep and the show for comment.

Clarkson has not publicly addressed her absence.

She returned for the March 5 show, but has been out since then, according to content from her Instagram page. On Wednesday, "Sunday Today" anchor Willie Geist stepped in to help host the show during Clarkson's absence.

Roy Wood Jr., Wanda Sykes, Josh Groban hosted Kelly Clarkson show during absence

A star-studded lineup of guest hosts has stepped up to help Clarkson. "The Daily Show" alum and comedian Roy Wood Jr. took the reins for Clarkson on March 6.

"Kelly's out for the day. I'm back. You're in good hands. I was here about a week ago, I think they brought me back because of my resemblance to Kelly. You need to squint to see it, though," Wood joked.

Comedian Wanda Sykes and singer Josh Groban co-hosted the March 7 episode, and Brooke Shields performed and hosted on Monday and Tuesday. Geist helped on Wednesday, while Molly Sims will host Thursday and Friday.

In 2019, amid the premiere of her talk show, Clarkson opened up to USA TODAY about her approach to hosting "The Kelly Clarkson Show."

"This is what's weird about me. Ignorance is bliss. I'm just doing my thing. I love talking to people. I love singing. I love the audience being kind of a co-host with me. My band’s here," she told USA TODAY. "So, I'm just kind of doing me. It might work and it might not."

Contributing: Bill Keveney, Melissa Rugierri; USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kelly Clarkson show absence: Willie Geist steps in to host talk show