Kelly Clarkson is known for her honesty and humor, and during the June 12 episode of her talk show, she shared a funny childhood memory that had the audience in stitches.
The 43-year-old host revealed a surprising vacation hack her mom used when Clarkson was a kid, one that involved a creative twist on family vacations.
Clarkson’s Childhood Vacations (Or Lack Thereof)
During an impromptu Q&A session on her show, Clarkson was asked by a woman who had two sets of twins about her favorite summer vacation as a child.
Clarkson’s answer was simple: “Oh, we were poor. We didn’t do vacations.” She went on to explain how her family couldn’t afford the typical summer getaways and instead would often play in their backyard.
The Hilarious Vacation “Hack” From Clarkson’s Mom
However, Clarkson shared a funny story about her mom’s unique way of creating the illusion of a vacation. “One thing that is funny, though, is our mother would take my school picture and she would cut it out and then she would post me in like the desert,” Clarkson said with a laugh.
“She would paste me onto like a desert scene or in the mountains or the Swiss Alps. Oh, she’s on a grassy knoll.” Essentially, Clarkson’s mom would glue her school picture into scenic backgrounds, making it look as though their family had traveled to exotic places.
Clarkson chuckled as she explained, “It was like an artsy thing I think she did, too. But also, yeah, we don’t have vacation pics.” Her mother’s creative efforts to make it appear they had gone on vacations became a fond and funny memory for Clarkson.
A New Era of Family Vacations for Clarkson
Now that Clarkson is a mother herself, she has had the chance to create her own vacation memories with her children. Clarkson, who shares daughter River Rose (11) and son Remington Alexander (9) with her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, has made special trips with them.
In 2021, they enjoyed a magical time at Disney World. Clarkson posted a picture of the family in front of the Stormtroopers at the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride and shared her excitement about the experience on Instagram.
She wrote, “We had so much fun at Disney World! All the rides were amazing but oh my gosh, y’all, Pandora and the Star Wars rides are where it’s at! Thank you for a magical vacation, Disney ❤️.”
A Special Gift for Her Studio Audience
Clarkson also made headlines in 2022 when she gave every member of her studio audience an unforgettable gift—an all-expenses-paid vacation to Hawaii. “I feel like this is what Oprah felt like — I like this feeling!” she said, clearly enjoying the joy her surprise brought to her audience.
Kelly Clarkson’s childhood memory of her mom’s DIY vacation pictures is a heartwarming reminder that family fun doesn’t always require expensive trips. Clarkson’s story resonates with many who have fond memories of creative solutions to make the best of what they had.
Now, as a mother herself, Clarkson is creating new, magical memories with her own children while also making dreams come true for her audience members. It’s clear that, no matter where you go, it’s the memories and the love that make any vacation special.
