The Wilson Family Visits The Kelly Clarkson Show
Multitalented entertainer Kelly Clarkson has become a staple in many households with her namesake daytime talk show. One of the most-loved segments of The Kelly Clarkson Show is “Kellyoke,” where Clarkson puts her spin on covers of her favorite songs.
On June 24, 2021, the talk show host had some very special guests join her for “Kellyoke.” Carnie Wilson and Wendy Wilson, daughters of the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, and Carnie’s then 16-year-old daughter, Lola Bonfiglio, combined their talents to perform the 1966 classic, “God Only Knows.”
The song was the third single from the group’s 11th studio album, Pet Sounds. It was penned by Wilson and Tony Asher and is often praised as one of the greatest songs ever written.
Brian Wilson Unexpectedly Joins The Performance
As Clarkson and the three women began the song’s third verse, another voice became audible. Legendary Beach Boy himself, Brian Wilson, joined them all via live stream video to finish the song.
This marked the first time three generations of Wilsons had performed together.
Bonfiglio called the opportunity a “dream come true.” She wrote about the experience online and said:
“i am so so so excited to finally share that a dream i’ve had since i was very little has come true. not only did i get to sing with the absolutely incredible @kellyclarkson, but i was also able to share a really beautiful moment with my mom, aunt, and grandpa singing one of his most special songs God Only Knows. i am so grateful to have had this opportunity.”
Watch the incredible performance below.
Remembering Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson passed away on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82. His family shared the tragic news online and wrote:
“We are heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away. We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
Wilson was a founding member of The Beach Boys. During their career, they landed four songs at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and 33 more in the Top 40. Their most famous songs, like “Surfin’ U.S.A.,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda,” and “Don’t Worry, Baby,” were all written or co-written by Brian Wilson.
