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Kelly Clarkson has been very busy over the last few years.
Notably, she released her eighth studio album (“Meaning of Life”), did voice work for a couple of animated movies (“The Star,” “Uglydolls”), acted as a coach on the talent competition “The Voice,” started preparing to host her own TV talk show (“The Kelly Clarkson Show,” which debuts on NBC in September) and had a couple of kids.
Given all that activity, it’s understandable that Clarkson spent three-plus years away from the road.
But, finally, Clarkson is back, with her first concert tour since 2015’s Piece by Piece Tour.
And the Bay Area got the first look at the Meaning of Life Tour, which kicked off Jan. 25 at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Clarkson seemed absolutely thrilled to be back on the concert stage and crooning for 10,000-plus fans.
Her smile absolutely lit up the building as she took the stage and invited fans to enjoy the show to the fullest.
“Dance with us. Sing with us. And let’s just have a good time,” she said.
She didn’t have to tell them twice. The crowd was in Clarkson’s corner from the get-go and remained there throughout the night.
Clarkson was her regular vocal powerhouse as she opened the show with a gorgeous take on “A Moment Like This,” from the 2003 studio debut “Thankful.”
Here's how @kelly_clarkson kicks off show at @OracleArena in beautiful @CityofOakland pic.twitter.com/2eJa3hGjlv
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 25, 2019
Backed by a groovy 12-piece band, complete with a horn section and four backing vocalists, the 36-year-old Texan kept motoring along on a high level as she followed with the title tracks to 2017’s “Meaning of Life” and 2004’s “Breakaway.”
The concert reached the next level with the fourth selection, “Love So Soft,” a standout rocker from “Meaning of Life” that shows just how much soul Clarkson can bring to the party when she has the right material to work with. And, most definitely, “Love So Soft” is the right material, hopefully serving as a kind of a blueprint for her for years to come.
. @kelly_clarkson sings of "meaning of life" at @OracleArena pic.twitter.com/uKet9dtPYV
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 25, 2019
Part of what makes Clarkson so impactful onstage is her sincerity. She comes across as someone you can trust and, even more so, someone who you’d want to hang out with.
All of those traits make it easy to believe that Clarkson will be great on her own talk show.
She’d give fans a sneak peek of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” at Oracle, acting the part of host as she invited out special guest, Allyn Pierce, a nurse who made some heroic efforts to save lives during the deadly Camp Fire in November.
While Clarkson still has plenty of work to do as far as honing her interviewer skills, she also showed plenty of personality and, best of all, genuine kindness as she talked with Pierce.
. @kelly_clarkson covers @mirandalambert song Tin Man at @OracleArena pic.twitter.com/KLLPGZd0l3
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 25, 2019
She also seemed to hint that her talk show will regularly focus on these kinds of feel-good stories.
“We have far more commonalities than we have differences,” she told the audience. “I think we need to focus more on that and watch the news less.”
The approximately 90-minute main set ended on a high note, as the headliner invited her two opening acts — Brynn Cartelli (who won “The Voice” last year as a member of Kelly’s team) and Kelsea Ballerini — back onstage to help her deliver a powerful version of the “Thankful” hit “Miss Independent.”
. @kelly_clarkson joined by @BrynnCartelli and @KelseaBallerini at @OracleArena pic.twitter.com/M0IvtKCYwt
— Jim Harrington (@jimthecritic) January 25, 2019
