A Visit to “The Kelly Clarkson Show”

Syd's Book Shack & Boutique co-owners Paul DeJohn and Meredith Daggett, Kelly Clarkson, and Scholastic Kid Reporter Arjun Atluri and Mounika Atluri (Photo Credit: The Kelly Clarkson Show) 

Recently, I wrote a story for Scholastic Kids Press about an independent bookstore in my community called Syd’s Book Shack and Boutique. It was an honor to share their story and mission. The producers from The Kelly Clarkson Show heard about my reporting and wanted to learn more!

The Kelly Clarkson Show invited me, along with the co-owners of the bookstore, Meredith Daggett and Paul DeJohn, to be guests on the show to talk about the wonderful work that Meredith and Paul are doing. There was even an exciting donation from Scholastic in acknowledgement of this work.

Behind-the-scenes

I arrived at NBC studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City and had an incredible experience. The hour-long program features celebrity interviews, interesting stories about everyday people, musical performances, games and many fun-filled segments.

From the moment I stepped into the studio, the warm and friendly team helped me feel right at home. The producer led me to a dressing room that was inviting and colorful. It even had a television where we could watch the live show, adding to the exciting atmosphere. The senior producer, Laura Palmer, gave me a behind-the-scenes tour of the studio, where I met more crew members, saw the audience, and all the cameras and studio lights. While I was settling in, the team members of the show made sure I felt comfortable and ready to go on to the stage.

Behind the Scenes at The Kelly Clarkson Show (Photo Credit: Scholastic) 

Lights, Camera, Action!

The show started with a heartfelt welcome by Kelly Clarkson and a cheerful audience filling the studio. The first guest was author, journalist and the host of NBC’s Sunday Today, Willie Geist. Additionally, actors Luke Kirby and Gideon Glick of the American comedy-drama television series, Etoile, joined Kelly on the stage for a joint interview. When it was our turn, Kelly introduced me to the audience and asked a few questions about who I report for, how I discovered Syd’s Book Shack and why I wanted to write about it. She then interviewed Meredith and Paul about their journey and the mission behind the bookstore. Towards the end of the segment, Scholastic surprised Meredith and Paul with a $10,000 donation in support of their mission.

Once the segment was finished, I was so excited to meet Kelly and chat with her. She’s amazing! I also got to snap a few pictures with her. I was incredibly happy to have been on The Kelly Clarkson Show and to have helped make a difference in someone's life and in our community. Be sure to watch the clip here!