Name: 20 Times Celebs Broke Down on Live TV and Why
Uploaded: 2026-01-28T17:08:04.000Z
Duration: 20 min 31 s
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I want you to know that if you too can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen.

Welcome to watchmojo and today we're looking at instances where celebrities couldn't hold it together and broke down in real time on television.

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We'll be including some broadcasts that were recorded live to tape.

Special extra thanks to my mom and dad and my mother in law Mickey, my kids Gaty and Kevin, my cousins, my sister Kelly Clarkson With a very emotional song called Piece by Piece, please welcome Kelly Clarkson.

Kelly Clarkson's 2016 performance on American Idol became one of the most emotional moments in the show's history.

Returning as a guest performer while pregnant with her son, Clarkson sang the deeply personal ballad Piece by Piece.

The song touched on her father's abandonment and the stability she found with her then husband, Brandon Blackstock.

Back then, I didn't have anything you needed so I was worthless.

Piece by Piece when she reached the verse about walking away, Clarkson visibly lost composure and the live cameras captured her wiping tears as she attempted to press on.

The judges grew emotional while the audience stood in support.

Heck, even Ryan Seacrest rushed in to steady her when the song ended.

Serena Williams what began as a farewell turned into a flood of 27 years of emotion.

Yup, when the undisputed goat of tennis decided to hang up her racket for good, things got overly emotional and her U.S.

open farewell interview further amplified that emotion.

Despite losing to all Jaw Tomjanovic, Serena still walked away a winner, earning the utmost respect of tennis fans worldwide.

It was one of the greatest athletes to ever step foot on a tennis court facing the end of a legendary chapter.

Halle Berry When Halle Berry won best actress at the 74th Academy Awards for her role in Monster Ball, the energy in the then Kodak theater shifted instantly.

As the first black woman to ever win the category, Berry became overwhelmed the moment her name was called.

Her heartfelt acceptance speech became palpable as she thanked the women who paved the way, the likes of Dorothy Dandridge, Selena Horne and Diane Carroll, and

shouted out the broader community her win represented.

Everyone knew they were witnessing history.

As Berry's emotional breakdown wasn't simply celebratory, it was the release of decades of Hollywood barriers.

Hold a copy during the 2020 Today show, segment host Hoda Kotb interviewed New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew brees about his $5 million donation to support Louisiana during the COVID 19 pandemic.

A lot of people don't know the need for food in New Orleans.

I mean, the numbers have always been staggering to me.

But one in six Louisiana household struggle to put food on the table.

One in four seniors are hungry, one in four children.

But because Kotb began her journalism career in New Orleans, the discussion hit very close to home.

As Breeze explained his motivation, Hoda suddenly struggled to continue.

Her voice cracked and tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, I'm sorry, all while wiping her face.

The live TV moment highlighted just how deeply a host can connect to a story.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Even one of the world's most decorated footballers can be reduced to raw vulnerability.

You see, during Portugal's Euro 2024 round of 16 match against Slovenia, Cristiano Ronaldo saw his extra time penalty saved by Jan Oblak, a stunning miss in a match with massive stakes.

As the cameras cut to the stands, his mother was seen crying, and

when Ronaldo glanced up and met her eyes, the moment visibly broke him.

He covered his face and sobbed on the field, the emotion pouring out in real time, but

Minutes later, during the decisive penalty shootout, Ronaldo stepped back up and buried his attempt, helping propel Portugal forward in the tournament.

Wendy Williams if you think celebrities don't care about their fans, Wendy Williams sure proves otherwise.

You see, during a 2017 episode of the Wendy Williams show, viewers might have noticed an empty seat in the audience.

One of the things you might have one of the things you may have noticed today is that there's an empty chair.

Williams explained that it was reserved for Martin Het, a 29 year old from the UK who had spent two years saving up for his dream trip to New York, including tickets to two tapings of her show.

Tragically, Het was one of the victims of the Manchester arena attack.

He was supposed to be in our Wendy audience yesterday and today.

He saved for two years to have a fabulous time in New York and come to our show.

Fighting back tears, Williams shared his story and paid a heartfelt tribute live on her show, leaving the seat open in his honor.

So Martin, in honor of you, we're keeping that chair open and our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.

Ric Flair After a legendary decades long career, Ric Flair's retirement tribute on the March 31, 2008 episode of WWE Raw delivered A well, raw moment of pure emotion.

If you think that the millions of people watching on TV are the only ones that want to say thank you, Well, then, my friend, you've got another thing coming.

The night after his would be retirement match at WrestleMania 24 against Shawn Michaels, Flair entered the arena to a standing ovation.

As he thanked fans and his colleagues, Ric became completely overwhelmed.

Fellow wrestlers joined him on stage, many visibly emotional themselves as Flair embraced them one by one.

While Flair would end up wrestling again, this live send off gave viewers a glimpse of the personal weight behind what the industry meant to one of the true greats, Tracy Morgan.

Tracy Morgan is with us now exclusively along with his attorney, Benedict Morelli.

Tracy Morgan's first live interview on the today in June 2015 came nearly a year after the tragic highway crash that killed his friend and fellow comedian James McNair and left him severely injured.

Sitting with host Matt Lauer, Morgan reflected on waking from his coma and relearning basic functions, all while dealing with the overwhelming trauma.

You know, I have my wife, Megan, we're about to be married, and

my daughter, my son, so they keep my spirits up.

And then I have Ben and Matt Force and Mark Lansman and all these people that helped me get my spirits up.

And Tina Fey and all the people calling me, just helping me get my spirits up.

I mean, the case is settled, but the pain is always gonna be there.

As he spoke about McNair, the celebrated funny man broke down in tears, talking about how his friend was a good man.

Can I ask you to take me back to June of last year, Tracy and that accident?

The broadcast captured Morgan's deep vulnerability, showing a man still processing grief and survival in real time.

During its run, the Real never shied away from Ana's emotion.

And few moments were as heartbreakingly real as Tamera Mari Housley's return following the Thousand Oak shooting.

Tragically, the incident claimed the life of her niece, Alaina Housley.

She would want me, a sweet Elena, to move forward.

I don't like to say move on because I don't think I'll ever move on with the fact that she's not here with me or with our family.

Mari Housley understandably stepped away from the show to grieve with her family.

Fighting through tears, she paid tribute to Elena with deeply heartfelt words, using her platform to call for kindness and to honor her niece's memory in a way that left a lasting impact on the live viewers.

That sweet 18 year old girl impacted people in such a positive way and that's how we've been able to move on the love.

Whoopi Goldberg In 2014, the host of the View honored director Mike Nichols shortly after news of his passing.

And as you might imagine, things got emotional when Whoopi Goldberg attempted to share the announcement.

She became overwhelmed before she could finish her sentence, prompting her co host to step in.