In a profoundly emotional and unscripted moment on the TODAY plaza, global superstar Kelly Clarkson paused her Citi Concert Series performance to embrace a young fan, sharing a message of strength that brought the crowd to tears. The fan, 10-year-old Camila from Paterson, New Jersey, who was diagnosed with brain cancer at just 18 months old, was in the front row for the September 22 concert.
Camila’s presence was the culmination of an earlier interaction with TODAY’s Hoda Kotb, where Camila sent a heartfelt message to the singer: “If you ever see Kelly Clarkson again, can you tell her that I’m her biggest fan. I really love her song ‘Stronger’ because that song actually made me get through my cancer.”
After recognizing the young fan, the “Stronger” singer immediately stopped the concert and stepped down to give Camila a big, heartfelt hug, causing the young girl to sob openly in her arms. Clarkson noticed Camila was holding a Moxy doll, the character Clarkson voiced in the 2019 film UglyDolls. “I love that you love Moxy,” Clarkson said. Camila explained her connection to the character: “Because she’s my favorite character from UglyDolls, and I’ve been always trying to sing like her because this reminds me of me.”
Camila then shared her painful struggles with self-acceptance and isolation. “Since I was born, when I was a kid, I’ve always been crying because I never knew how it was like to have friends,” Camila shared, adding, “And people think that I’m just bald and sometimes I feel like I’m going to get bullied.” Clarkson quickly tried to comfort her, assuring the young girl that she was not alone in feeling out of place. “Hey, you know what? I did not fit in either when I was younger, and I think that’s a lot of kids out there,” Clarkson whispered. “You’re definitely not alone. A lot of us struggle with finding your people, your friends and your school and stuff. And hey, that happens to all of us. You are not alone in that, OK? I was the same way.”
Clarkson then pointed to her own success as an example of hope, saying, “And look at me now,” which drew a thunderous applause from the plaza crowd. Hoda Kotb then jumped in to add, “We love you.” Before the moment ended, Clarkson paid Camila one last compliment, telling her, “You look beautiful with those earrings.” This poignant encounter fell during September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Nearly 16,000 people age 19 and younger are diagnosed with cancer every year in the U.S., highlighting the importance of the visibility and support that moments like this provide.