Kelly Clarkson Singing KPop Demon Hunters' 'Golden' for Her Last Kellyoke Praised for Performance and Getting Korean Lyrics Right

Kelly Clarkson has gone out on a high note, delivering a powerful rendition of 'Golden' from KPop Demon Hunters for the final ever edition of her beloved 'Kellyoke' segment.

The singer performed the hugely popular track during the series finale of The Kelly Clarkson Show on 31 August, bringing the seven-season daytime programme to an emotional close. Her performance of the popular song from Netflix's box office hit was particularly well received by fans because Clarkson retained the song's original Korean lyrics rather than removing or anglicising them.

Kelly Clarkson Chose 'Golden' for Her Final Kellyoke

'Golden' was reportedly the most requested cover in the history of the 'Kellyoke' segment, making it a fitting choice for Clarkson's final performance.

The song was originally performed by EJAE, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami as HUNTR/X in the Netflix animated hit KPop Demon Hunters. The track became a major global success and earned several major awards during 2026.

Clarkson performed the song alongside her house band, My Band Y'all, and kept the performance in its original key. She reportedly acknowledged the difficulty of the song before taking it on, saying: 'That is a very high song. I was like, "Let's go for it!"'

The result quickly attracted attention from viewers who praised Clarkson for tackling one of the soundtrack's most demanding songs for such a significant occasion.

Fans Praise Clarkson for Keeping the Korean Lyrics

One of the biggest talking points surrounding the performance was Clarkson's decision to sing the Korean portions of 'Golden' rather than avoiding them.

Fans on social media praised her pronunciation, with Korean viewers in particular complimenting her attempt to perform the lyrics authentically. A discussion on Reddit saw one Korean fan write that 'Kelly hit those small Korean word parts well,' while another praised Clarkson for not 'white washing' the song.

Other fans focused primarily on Clarkson's vocals, with viewers describing the performance as impressive and praising her ability to sing the demanding high notes.

One fan said Clarkson 'absolutely killed it,' while another highlighted that she performed the song in the original key.

The reaction was notable because 'Golden' is closely associated with the fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X, whose three vocalists bring distinctly different voices and styles to the original recording. Clarkson therefore had the additional challenge of transforming a song written for multiple performers into a solo live performance.

'Golden' Has Become One of 2026's Biggest Songs

The performance also underlined just how enormous 'Golden' has become since KPop Demon Hunters was released.

According to Netflix's official Tudum coverage, the song was written by EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, IDO, 24 and TEDDY and produced by IDO, 24, TEDDY and Ian Eisendrath. It serves as an important emotional song in the film, reflecting the characters' ambitions while also exploring Rumi's internal struggle.

Clarkson was not completely new to the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, either. She and her band had previously performed 'What It Sounds Like' on 'Kellyoke,' giving her another connection to the film before returning to its most recognisable song for her farewell.

An Emotional End to 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'

The 'Golden' performance formed part of a larger farewell for Clarkson, who brought The Kelly Clarkson Show to an end after seven seasons and more than 1,200 episodes.

The finale was structured around fan requests, allowing Clarkson to revisit some of the songs that had become particularly meaningful during her time on the programme. She also performed several of her own hits, including 'Since U Been Gone,' 'Sober,' 'Stronger' and 'Piece by Piece,' alongside the television debut of her new single, 'I'd Be Lyin.'

Clarkson previously announced that she was stepping away from the daytime show to focus more on her children, although she is continuing her music career.

For many viewers, ending 'Kellyoke' with 'Golden' therefore felt like a fitting farewell. The performance combined Clarkson's trademark vocal power with one of the biggest songs of the year — while her decision to preserve its Korean lyrics earned an extra round of praise from KPop Demon Hunters fans.