Coshocton native works on the 'Kelly Clarkson Show'

COSHOCTON − A Coshocton native is fulfilling an important role on one of the most successful and popular daytime talk shows.

Chloe Howard-Crouso is the clearance coordinator for "The Kelly Clarkson Show." The program hosted by the first winner of "American Idol" won seven Daytime Emmy Awards for 2022. This included best entertainment talk show host and best entertainment talk show. The syndicated program is in its fourth season, with more than 650 episodes.

Recently, those who work on the program received certificates from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences commemorating the honor. There's more than 100 people who work on the show and Howard-Crouso started in October 2021.

She said while the certificates are available from the academy, not every show that wins an Emmy orders them for the staff. However, the fact that producers wanted to honor everyone who works on the show demonstrates why the show is considered to be quality, she said.

"The show is such a team and everybody matters," Howard-Crouso said of the attitude on set. "It's so cool to work under not only Kelly, but an executive producer who sees that we couldn't get here without every single one of us on the team."

The 29-year-old is the daughter of Kendall and Lena Crouso, who now live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a bachelor's degree in cinematic arts production and had quite a road to her current job.

While still in college Howard-Crouso had an internship with Alcon Entertainment. It's made such films as "The Blind Side," "The Book of Eli," "Blade Runner 2049" and "Dolphin Tale."

After college, she took a year off and traveled, which included teaching English in South Korea. She also got engaged and married during that time.

"I didn't want to get my dream job and then not want to travel. I said, 'let me take a year off and travel for a little bit and then I can try to start climbing this film industry ladder,'" she said. "Once I got back, I said, 'now is the time and I want to hit the ground running.'"

Her first job was as an executive assistant at a company that makes movie trailers. She worked directly for the chief executive officer and did everything from taking notes and running his appointment calendar to fetching coffee and sandwiches. She worked there a year.

"That job was grinding. When they say you have to start at the bottom, you really do," Howard-Crouso said. "One of my professors in college told me, 'if you're asked to make a pot of coffee, make the best pot of coffee you possibly can and you'll go far.'"

From there she became a coordinator for "Botched" on E!. The series followed two doctors trying to fix plastic surgery fails. She was there a year as well. Howard-Crouso was in charge of assembling photos and videos to help tell the backstory of the patients profiled.

"Botched" was canceled briefly before being brought back. But, during the hiatus, Howard-Crouso took a job with the People's Choice Awards, also on E! She contacted studios, production companies and publicists gathering elements for nominees like pictures and videos for packages.

"I had made connections and made a name for myself so I could interview for the job and they knew who I was," Howard-Crouso said. "It was a huge undertaking, but I grew my contacts, which is really huge in the industry. If you have your own list, you can bring that to your next job. It's saying, 'hey, you should hire me because I have all these publicist contacts and all these production company contacts I can get in touch with and get whatever assets are needed."

She said that was a big help in landing her current job with "The Kelly Clarkson Show." Howard-Crouso obtains and legally clears the use of material for use on the program. This can be anything from a headshot of a guest to a song for the Kellyoke segment.

"It was just me grinding for about four years. I interviewed for this job and really hit it off with the head of my department," she said. "This is the best position I've had so far. It's been incredible. From the executive producer down to the production assistant, every single person on this show are the biggest team players. I couldn't be happier where I'm at."

Of all the celebrities that have come through, Howard-Crouso said she's most enjoyed meeting Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock. Howard-Crouso also said Kelly Clarkson is exactly what you see on television and not someone who puts on a persona for the cameras.

"I've worked on other shows and been around industry professionals. People get egos and Kelly does not have an ego. She's literally the most coolest and down to earth person in Hollywood," Howard-Crouso said.

While Howard-Crouso loves what she's doing, her major goal is to have a movie or television show she's written produced. She worked at Shelby Theaters of Coshocton while in high school and she saw first hand how films change people's moods. She wants to have that affect.

"I remember thinking, 'soon as I graduate I'm going to leave this town and I'm going to Hollywood and make something of myself,'" Howard-Crouso said. "I've had big dreams since I was a little kid and I want kids in Coshocton County to know they can do it too. You can literally do anything you put your mind to."

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton native works on the 'Kelly Clarkson Show'