Kelly Clarkson Looks Unrecognizable as She Becomes Beetlejuice for Talk Show's Halloween Episode (Exclusive)

10/31/2024 03:00 AM

PEOPLE has a behind-the-scenes look at the superstar singer's transformation into 'The Ghost with the Most'

Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Clarkson, Kelly Clarkson!

The Grammy-winning singer and Emmy-winning daytime host is having a deadly Halloween this year, becoming the strange and unusual Beetlejuice (or Betelgeuse, as his name is often spelled) for the Oct. 31 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

PEOPLE has a First Look at Clarkson in costume, as well as a behind-the-scenes peek at her uncanny transformation into 'The Ghost with the Most.'

She nails the look, recreating the character's black-and-white pinstripe suit, green hair, dark eyes and ghoulish skin. She even rocks his rotten teeth, too,

It's a makeover so effective, Y'all — the house band at The Kelly Clarkson Show — fittingly told Clarkson, "You look gross" when they first saw her all done up, laughing at the outcome.

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Of course, Clarkson didn't do it all herself. She had a killer glam team, starting with stylist Micaela Erlanger and dresser Arleisha Randle, who took care of Beetlejuice's wardrobe.

Emmy-nominated makeup artist Gloria Elias-Foeillet was behind crafting Beetlejuice's ghostly complexion, while Emmy winner Louie Zakarian — a designer and department head of Saturday Night Live — crafted all the special effects makeup.

And then there was hairstylist Corey Morris and SNL wigmaker Brittany Hartman, who crafted Beetlejuice's signature 'do.

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But Clarkson doesn't just stop at Beetlejuice's aesthetics. She embraces every aspect of the character made famous on screen by Michael Keaton, even mimicking the actor's iconic speech.

Fans first met Beetlejuice in Tim Burton's 1988 American gothic dark fantasy starring Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis (among others). Keaton, Ryder and O'Hara all reprised their roles inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, this year's long-awaited sequel that was also directed by Burton, 66.

The Kelly Clarkson Show, like its title star, is going all-in on the Beetlejuice franchise, too. In addition to Clarkson's costume, the show incorporates elements from both films into its set, even recreating the iconic model city.

Related: The Cast of Beetlejuice: Where Are They Now?

Like all episodes, the Halloween bash begins with one of Clarkson's acclaimed Kellyoke numbers. This time, she and the band — also dressed in costume — perform a spooky cover of "Banana Boat (Day-O)," the Harry Belafonte tune used in one of Beetlejuice's most iconic scenes.

Guests Reba McEntire and her boyfriend, actor Rex Linn, appear in costume, too — Linn's ensemble particularly horrifying McEntire.

Food artist and Practical Peculiarities creator Nikk Alcaraz makes an appearance too, giving Clarkson, McEntire and Linn a tour of spooky dishes from his new book, Peculiar Baking: A Practical Guide to Strange Confections.

There's also a never-before-seen segment with past Kelly Clarkson Show guests Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone. The couple face off against Clarkson in an ultra-competitive axe-throwing competition straight from their new podcast, Hildy the Barback and the Lake of Fire.

The episode will conclude with the Boulet Brothers performing "All Hallows' Eve" from their new EP Halloween House Party, as well as a segment on a Wisconsin NICU nurse who crochets Halloween costumes for newborns.

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Related: Kelly Clarkson Sings 'Hocus Pocus' ' 'I Put a Spell on You' as Winifred Sanderson on Her Talk Show

This is Clarkson's sixth Halloween episode of her talk show and second since moving the popular daytime series from Los Angeles and across the country to New York City.

Last season, she went as a blood-sucking vampire, and the year before that chose another spooky, Stevie Nicks-inspired look. But the first three seasons were all about more light-hearted fun: a Ghostbuster (season 3), Marilyn Monroe (season 2) and Winifred Sanderson from Hocus Pocus (season 1).

The Kelly Clarkson Show airs weekdays on NBC (check local listings).