Las Vegas, NV — Kelly Clarkson is happier than ever to see her daughter following in her footsteps, both in front of and behind the cameras. During a recent Studio Sessions residency performance at the Colosseum at Las Vegas’ Caesars Palace on July 18, the “Since U Been Gone” singer was eclipsed by her 11-year-old daughter, River Rose, in a moment of confident, spontaneous stardom.
Instead of hiding from the massive crowd, the youngster boldly declared her desire to be a part of the show. Clarkson reportedly told the audience, “So my daughter, River Rose, said to me, ‘I wanna sing tonight!’ “ River Rose’s fearless reaction to the spotlight was a major highlight, prompting her proud mother to yield the stage to her little daughter in a moment of humor and admiration.
The mother-daughter duo captivated the audience with an adorable and confident duet of River Rose’s favorite song, the 2015 hit “Heartbeat Song.” Fans were quick to notice that River—who twinned with her mom in a t-shirt and flared jeans—truly is her mother’s mini-me, with one user noting, “Omg not River being almost as tall as her mom.” This marks the second time River has joined her mother on the Vegas stage to perform the track.
From Stage Stealer to Mini Producer
River Rose’s desire to perform is matched by a surprising interest in the logistics of show business. Just months earlier, she tried her hand at entertaining a live studio audience in a different way. In fact, she played producer for a day during an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show back in April.
“My daughter is here today,” Kelly announced at the top of the broadcast, noting her daughter was shadowing showrunner Alex Duda for the day. “Oh my God! You have a mic and everything! You’re so fancy! Oh my God. I love it. You’re like a little mini producer.”
The American Idol alum—who also shares 9-year-old son Remington “Remy” Alexander with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock—noted River fully embraced the behind-the-scenes role, attending “all the meetings this morning like an adult. She’s very professional.”
The Working Mom Dilemma
While Clarkson beams with pride at her children’s professional ambition, she has previously admitted that coparenting amid a crazy production schedule makes keeping up with all her kids’ big events a challenge. “Why do schools have things in the middle of the f–king day?” Kelly asked host Kylie Kelce during a March 25 episode of her Not Gonna Lie podcast.
She admitted that she sometimes feels like the “asshole” because she is hustling while school functions take place at inconvenient times. The singer also noted a double standard from her children when comparing her attendance to that of their father. “They’re like, ‘He’s allowed to be somewhere, but you’re not,’” Kelly explained. She added with a quip, “’Do you think I just leave and sit in the park all day?’ Mommy does work, that’s okay. Women and men work, it’s okay.”
River Rose’s confident step into the spotlight confirms that the legacy of Kelly Clarkson’s talent is well and truly continuing into the next generation.