No. Kelly Clarkson is not leaving The Voice. NBC has not announced any change to her role, and she remains one of the four coaches on Season 30. The question started trending after an online petition asked NBC to drop her from the live shows. The petition came out of “Birdgate,” a public dispute between Clarkson and Art of Play, a small shop in Brooklyn, over a mechanical singing bird. Below is what happened, what each side has said and what it means for The Voice.
Last updated on October 19, 2026. For everything happening on the show itself, see our guide to The Voice Season 30 coaches.
Birdgate at a Glance
| Who | Kelly Clarkson and Art of Play, a toy, puzzle and magic shop in Brooklyn Heights, New York |
| What | A dispute over how Clarkson was treated when she asked about a mechanical singing bird called Molly |
| When it started | Saturday, October 10, 2026 |
| The price at the center of it | A $15,000 tag next to the bird |
| The Voice link | A Change.org petition asks NBC to keep Clarkson off the live shows |
| Is she leaving The Voice? | No. NBC has announced nothing and has not commented |
What Happened Between Kelly Clarkson and Art of Play
On Saturday, October 10, Clarkson stopped by Art of Play in Brooklyn Heights. She asked staff about Molly, a small mechanical bird that sings and moves and is mounted on the shop wall. A tag nearby showed a price of $15,000.
Shortly after leaving, Clarkson posted on X that she had gone to the shop ready to buy and came away feeling judged. She compared the visit to the famous shopping scene in Pretty Woman, where Julia Roberts’ character is snubbed by sales staff, and said an employee had offered to find her “something comparable” instead.
The Store’s Side
Art of Play answered on October 11. The shop said it was being attacked online by people who had never been inside, and that customers are welcome whether they buy something or just look around. It said Molly is the shop’s mascot, is fixed to the wall and was never for sale.
In a follow-up, the shop explained the price tag. It said the $15,000 figure referred to a twin of Molly owned by the bird’s maker, Seattle artist Bliss Kolb, who was willing to sell it. It also said staff had offered Clarkson a different singing bird from a German clockmaker, priced at about $2,000, which she could have taken home that day, but that she left before seeing it.
Clarkson’s Reply
Clarkson pushed back the same weekend. She shared a photo of the $15,000 tag, called the employee rude and accused the shop of lying about what happened. She added that she supports small businesses but that being small does not excuse treating people badly. She has not posted about the shop publicly since October 11.
The Security Footage
On October 13, journalist Pablo Torre released the shop’s surveillance video of the visit on his podcast, Pablo Torre Finds Out. The clips have no sound. They show Clarkson, dressed casually in a hat, talking with an employee and pointing toward the bird before leaving without buying anything. Timestamps on the video put the whole visit at just under five minutes.
Because there is no audio, the footage does not settle what was actually said at the counter, which is the heart of the disagreement.
What the Shop Owner Says Now
Adam Rubin, one of the shop’s owners, told USA Today that the staff have received hateful and threatening messages since Clarkson named the store, that people have turned up in person and that neighboring businesses have been review-bombed. He said the team fears for its safety and called the whole episode a misunderstanding.
Rubin also said Clarkson came in while the shop was crowded and was treated like any other customer. He invited her to come back and watch one of the shop’s magic shows, and joked that Molly’s price is now $15 million.
The Petition to Remove Kelly Clarkson From The Voice
In mid-October a petition appeared on Change.org asking NBC to keep Clarkson off the upcoming live shows of The Voice and to stop her from returning as a coach. It was started by an account called fAIkout AI, and its own wording is partly tongue in cheek. The page even jokes that it will count two signatures as a landslide victory.
A petition has no power over who coaches the show. NBC has not commented on Birdgate or on the petition, and Clarkson’s team did not respond to requests for comment from NBC News.
Is Kelly Clarkson Still a Coach on The Voice Season 30?
Yes. Clarkson is one of the four Season 30 coaches alongside Adam Levine, Riley Green and Queen Latifah, with Carson Daly hosting. Her team is still in the Battles. In Battles Part 2 on October 13 she used her one Steal on Marcus Ladden Jr. from Team Queen, and she lost a Steal fight for four-chair artist Kayleigh Mathews, who chose Team Riley. You can follow every result on our Battles results and Steals page.
The Battles continue tonight, Monday, October 19, at 8 p.m. ET on NBC. Cut Week follows on Monday, November 2, at 9 p.m. ET, and the live shows come after that. Here is how to watch The Voice Season 30, and here is what Cut Week means for each team.
Birdgate Timeline
- October 10: Clarkson visits Art of Play, asks about Molly and later posts that she felt judged by staff.
- October 11: The shop says Molly is not for sale and that it is being attacked online by people who have never visited. Clarkson replies with a photo of the $15,000 tag.
- October 11 to 12: The shop explains the tag refers to the artist’s twin bird and says it offered her a $2,000 alternative.
- October 13: Silent security footage of the visit is released on Pablo Torre Finds Out. Co-owner Adam Rubin tells USA Today the staff fear for their safety and invites Clarkson back.
- Mid-October: A Change.org petition asks NBC to remove Clarkson from The Voice live shows. NBC does not comment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kelly Clarkson leaving The Voice?
No. There has been no announcement from NBC, and she is still coaching Season 30.
What is Birdgate?
It is the nickname fans gave to Kelly Clarkson’s public dispute with Art of Play, a Brooklyn shop, over how she was treated when she asked about a $15,000 mechanical singing bird in October 2026.
Was the bird actually for sale?
The shop says Molly herself was never for sale and that the $15,000 tag was for an identical bird owned by the artist who made it. Clarkson says she was quoted that price and then steered toward something cheaper.
Has Kelly Clarkson apologized?
No. She has not posted about the shop since October 11, and her team has not commented further.
Will the petition get Kelly Clarkson removed from The Voice?
A Change.org petition cannot force NBC to make changes, and the network has said nothing about it.
Who are the other coaches on The Voice Season 30?
Adam Levine, Riley Green and Queen Latifah coach alongside Clarkson. Meet every team in our Season 30 contestants list.
This article is based on public statements from Kelly Clarkson and Art of Play and on reporting by outlets including Today, Brooklyn Paper, USA Today and ABC News. It will be updated if NBC or either side says more.
Image credits: the photo of Kelly Clarkson is an official NBC press image, and the featured image is an original graphic. If you are the rights holder of an image and would like it removed or credited differently, see our terms of service or contact us and we will act promptly.
