If you think The Kelly Clarkson Show, the Emmy-winning daytime talk show on NBC, only features mainstream celebrity guests…think again. Kelly Clarkson, the beloved pop-rock singer and American Idol winner, is a true friend to the alternative community and has platformed some incredible punk and rock acts on her successful variety show. From The Maine to Maggie Lindemann, here are five of the best rockers to appear on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Maggie Lindemann
Yes, you read that correctly! Queen Maggie Lindemann took her iconic goth-pop-rock to The Kelly Clarkson Show stage. Her sultry vocals and performance definitely stole the whole time slot…so, sorry to all of the guests who did talk interviews that day.
Cavetown
Cavetown is utterly enchanting with his hypnotic soft indie sounds on “Baby Spoon,” as well as each offering on his sixth studio record, Running With Scissors, which arrived in January 2026. We would happily let Cavetown, aka Robin Skinner, soundtrack all of our dreams because his voice is just that soothing. You can check out the artist on select autumn tour dates.
The Fray
The Fray is back and better than ever with their new album, A Light That Waits, which arrived on March 13, 2026, and they shared “Ice Cold Lakes” with the show’s audience. You can catch this song, and many of their hits, on the road this summer with Dashboard Confessional, Colony House, The Strumbellas, and Brother Elsey.
The Maine
The Maine made their talk show debut on The Kelly Clarkson Show a few days ahead of their Joy Next Door album release, and we were all cheering from our living rooms. Basically, you’d better have your tickets for their current I Love You, But I Chose The Maine tour, because this was just a taste of the epic live show you have to see.
Weezer
Weezer made a wonderful cameo on the show to perform the Blue Album banger, “Say It Ain’t So.” Clarkson has taken on many dazzling covers with her Kellyoke segment, but this one actually featured the iconic Rivers Cuomo and company.
