Kelly Clarkson is opening up about the inspiration behind her recent weight loss and the lifestyle changes she's made for her long-term health.
During a Jan. 29 episode of her talk show, she revealed that she had been diagnosed as prediabetic.
"That was literally what happened. ... I wasn't shocked," Clarkson shared with her guest, actor Kevin James. "I was a tiny bit overweight. So, yeah, but I wasn't shocked by it. But they did. They were like, 'You're prediabetic. You're right on the borderline.' And I was like, 'But I'm not there yet.' And then I waited two years and then ... I was like, 'OK, I'll do something about it.'"
Being prediabetic means having a higher blood sugar level than normal but still lower than the range for Type 2 diabetes. Engaging in regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet can help reduce the risk of its progression.
Clarkson had previously shared in an exclusive interview with People that she has "dropped weight" because she's now prioritizing her wellness.
"Walking in the city is quite the workout," said the star, who relocated to New York City last year for her show.
"I'm really into infrared saunas right now. And I just got a cold plunge because everybody wore me down," the "Piece By Piece" singer added.
Regarding her diet, Clarkson isn't following anything extreme.
"I eat a healthy mix," she explained. "I dropped weight because I've been listening to my doctor — a couple of years I didn't. And 90% of the time, I'm really good at it because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I'm a Texas girl, so I like meat — sorry, vegetarians in the world!
"But I still splurge. The other night I had frozen yogurt with my daughter, and it was magical," added the Grammy winner, who shares daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington, 7, with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
Clarkson has previously addressed experiencing weight loss while dealing with thyroid and autoimmune issues.
The "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" singer altered her diet to address these issues and ended up shedding about 37 pounds, as she revealed to YEPPOST's Hoda Kotb in 2018.
"I know the industry loves the weight loss, but for me, it wasn't really about the weight," Clarkson shared at the time.
Throughout her years in Hollywood, the original "American Idol" has faced considerable commentary about her size. She disclosed to Glamour UK in 2020 that being thin doesn't necessarily boost her confidence, mentioning that she landed her coaching role on "The Voice" after gaining some weight.
"I got on the No. 1 television show at my heaviest point because it was right after I had kids, and it was like they didn’t care," Clarkson explained. "Paul (Telegdy, chairman of NBC Entertainment) hired me from NBC because he loved my personality, he loved that I connect with people, and I’m really raw and real. It had nothing to do with my sex appeal or my look aesthetically. It had to do with me as a person. I think it’s really up to artists to force people to have that mentality."
Clarkson and YEPPOST's Jenna Bush Hager bonded over their weight struggles when Jenna and her twin sister, Barbara Pierce Bush, appeared on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" in November.
During the conversation, Clarkson shared a photo of Jenna and Barbara dressed identically as children.
“Those drop waist things were popular,” Jenna remarked about their dresses.
Clarkson interjected, “Which is not good for girls with curves later on.”
When Jenna mentioned that she and Barbara “were chubby” as children, Clarkson jokingly disagreed, "You were not."
“Well, we were,” Jenna insisted.
Barbara acknowledged that neither she nor Jenna were chubby in the photo shown.
“Not there, but I was,” Jenna maintained.
Clarkson then gave Jenna a high-five, teasing, “I’ve had many stages.”
When Jenna asked Barbara to confirm that she had been chubby as a child, Barbara hesitated before conceding, “Well, there was a stage."