Paul Telegdy, who had originally scouted Kelly Clarkson as a coach for The Voice, later became head of NBCUniversal's syndication division and offered her the talk show, which she accepted only after initial reluctance.

Before committing, Clarkson sought advice from fellow talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Ellen DeGeneres, as well as her fellow Voice coach Blake Shelton.

A pilot for the show was filmed and reported in August 2018, featuring guests such as Josh Groban, Terry Crews, and Chloë Grace Moretz.

The show's studio was designed as a barn-like set to reflect Clarkson's 'country roots'.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, production was suspended in March 2020 and later resumed with episodes recorded from Clarkson's home in Montana and then her Southern California home before returning to a studio format with a virtual audience.

Starting with its fifth season, the show relocated from Universal City Studios in Los Angeles to Studio 6-A at NBC Studios in Rockefeller Center, partly so Clarkson could be closer to her family in North Carolina and pursue her interest in Broadway theater, and to take advantage of new film tax credits for relocated productions.

Production was suspended in May 2023 due to the Writers Guild of America strike, delaying the fifth season's premiere until after the strike's settlement so writers could return and the new set could be built.

The show's premiere achieved the largest audience share in metered markets for a newly-premiering syndicated series since 2012, drawing over 2.6 million viewers and a 1.6 household rating.

A May 2023 Rolling Stone article detailed accounts from former employees describing a toxic work environment with mistreatment and favoritism, though staffers said Clarkson herself was likely unaware and described her as 'fantastic'; she later publicly apologized and pledged staff training.