Kelly Clarkson Turns “Sooner or Later” Into a Film Noir Halloween Scene

Kelly Clarkson opened the October 31, 2025, Halloween episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show with “Sooner or Later,” bringing a 1940s film noir look to her performance of the song made famous by Madonna in Dick Tracy.

The set began in black and white, with Clarkson in a glamorous gown and blonde curly wig and her band, My Band Y’all, dressed in white dinner jackets. The song, written by Stephen Sondheim, won an Academy Award and was performed by Madonna in the 1990 film. Clarkson moved between its lower, sultry passages and demanding high notes; afterward, she joked to guests Leanne Morgan and Lance Bass, “I’m not an actress.”

From Kellyoke to a whole episode

The performance also set the theme for the rest of the special. Showrunner and executive producer Alex Duda said the team builds its annual Halloween episode around the song chosen for Kellyoke. Clarkson suggested “Sooner or Later” in May, and the idea led the producers toward Dick Tracy and its world of mystery.

Rather than recreate the film outright, the team broadened the concept to 1940s noir. Art directors Jason Kirschner and Kait Taylor looked to classic detective stories and films, including The Thin Man series and The Maltese Falcon, as they developed the look. The monochrome treatment extended across the studio, not just the opening set.

The black-and-white scene gave way to a bright color reveal when Clarkson asked the director for a splash of color after her performance. The filter lifted to show her in a vivid red dress. Morgan wore green with red hair, while Bass appeared in a red jacket. Duda likened the visual effect to Pleasantville, where color emerges against a monochrome world.

A mystery behind the music

The noir setting also framed a comedy storyline. Clarkson enlisted detective Amber Ruffin to investigate the disappearance of musical director Jason Halbert, with sketches bringing the band, guests and audience members into the whodunit.

The production team had about a month to prepare while keeping up with the show’s regular episodes. The Halloween taping shared a day with another episode, so the elaborate set had to be taken down during the lunch break. The crew used Studio 6A at NBC’s 30 Rockefeller Center, transforming even the guest entrance into a detective’s office while keeping the original studio colors out of view.

Small period details included vintage glassware and vases, as well as a box marked “My Life Would Suck Without Donuts.” The special combined those touches with a classic song, a dramatic change from monochrome to color and a Halloween mystery threaded through the episode.