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Kelly Clarkson is took viewers back to the past with a "sultry" Kellyoke performance for the Halloween episode of her talk show.
On Friday (October 31), the typically modern set of The Kelly Clarkson Show transformed into a black and white 1940s jazz bar as a tribute to classic murder mysteries and film noir made popular at the time, per People. Even her band, My Band Y'all, dressed to the nines for the occasion, wearing white dinner jackets similar to what big band performers would wear during their heyday.
The American Idol alum, of course, played the part of the club singer and channeled Madonna's character from the 1990 movie Dick Tracy. Wearing a vintage-inspired red gown, diamond jewelry and short blonde curls, she sang a cover of "Sooner or Later," the jazz ballad that Madonna sang in the film.
Jason Halbert, musical director of My Band Y'all, heaped praise on Clarkson for making the performance seem effortless when in reality it took an incredible amount of control.
"It was probably one of the most complicated musical episodes we've done in seven seasons," Halbert said. "Kelly shines in that big band standard era, and her control in the song is just unbelievable. A lot of people are really impressed when she hits the really high notes — and to be honest, that comes really natural for her. I'm more amazed when she brings you into this sultry, lower register. That's actually ten times harder to control than the bigger, impressive notes you get the standing ovations for."
The Kelly Clarkson Show kept the theme going throughout the episode with a murder mystery "whodunit" featuring guests Leanne Morgan, Lance Bass, Amber Ruffin and magician Kid Ace who worked to "solve the case," according to a behind-the-scenes video shared on the talk show's Instagram.