Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s high-profile divorce got here as a shock to many followers, particularly after almost seven years of marriage. The pop star and discuss present host filed for divorce in 2020, citing irreconcilable variations, however the authorized battle that adopted revealed deeper tensions behind the breakup. The “Miss Impartial” artist initiated the cut up, leaving followers questioning: what went fallacious?
Regardless of the tip of their marriage, Kelly stayed by Brandon’s aspect whereas he confronted well being challenges. In August 2025, she postponed the rest of her Las Vegas residency, sharing that her kids’s father had been ailing. “At this second, I have to be totally current for them,” she wrote in a heartfelt Instagram assertion, thanking followers for his or her understanding. Simply someday later, Brandon died from most cancers.
Maintain studying to study every part we learn about their divorce and their household.
Sadly, I have to postpone the rest of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas.
Whereas I usually preserve my private life non-public, this previous 12 months, my kids’s father has been ailing and at this second, I have to be totally current for them.
I’m sincerely sorry to… pic.twitter.com/eDNxHdjtlh— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) August 7, 2025
When Did Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock Begin Relationship?
The previous couple first met in 2006 however didn’t begin courting till early 2012, as Brandon was nonetheless married to his ex-wife Melissa Ashworth till they finalized their divorce that 12 months. By the tip of 2012, he and the “Since U Been Gone” artist received engaged. Whereas saying their engagement, Kelly gushed over Brandon’s proposal being the “happiest night time of [her] life” through Twitter (now referred to as X).
Whereas talking with Individuals on the time, Kelly described the second Brandon popped the query. “Out of nowhere I simply stated, ‘Thanks for being an superior man.’ I’ve by no means been cherished correctly by a person, and I used to be identical to, ‘I thanks a lot for that,’” she recalled. In 2013, the couple received married.
All through their marriage, Kelly opened up about their love. Throughout an interview on SiriusXM in 2017, the “Behind These Hazel Eyes” singer defined that she “by no means felt … sexually interested in anyone earlier than [Brandon].” Whereas mentioning that she wasn’t shading any of her exes, Kelly famous, “I truthfully thought I used to be asexual — I’d by no means been turned on like that in my entire life. I used to be like, ‘Oh that’s that feeling … OK! That’s what they had been speaking about in Ready to Exhale. I simply received it. I simply didn’t have a clue.”
By 2019, Brandon — being Kelly’s supervisor on the time — inspired his then-wife to pursue her personal discuss present, which might go on to be The Kelly Clarkson Present. After most individuals needed to quarantine at residence amid the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Kelly revealed that she and Brandon had been staying at their shared Montana ranch. Throughout a Might 2020 digital dialogue along with her different coaches from The Voice, Kelly known as her then-husband her “companion in crime.”
Nonetheless, issues took a drastic flip as a result of two months later, she filed for divorce from Brandon in June 2020.
Why Did Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock Divorce?
In her divorce submitting, Kelly cited “irreconcilable variations” as the explanation behind their cut up, in line with a number of shops. The pair didn’t finalize their divorce till 2022 as a result of they went forwards and backwards over a number of authorized disputes, together with the custody of their kids and their shared property in Montana. Finally, Kelly was ordered to pay Brandon over $1 million up entrance in addition to $115,000 per 30 days in spousal help. Nonetheless, he was later ordered to pay Kelly $2.6 million resulting from a number of enterprise offers he oversaw for Kelly’s profession.
The next 12 months, the “Due to You” artist gave followers perception into her and Brandon’s breakup.
“In case you’re on the identical path on the similar time — and also you’re truly working collectively, and daily speaking collectively and doing the work — I believe that it may very well be stunning. However for me, it wasn’t that and it was very limiting,” she famous throughout a 2023 look on the “We Can Do Laborious Issues” podcast. “That’s my fault, for permitting that to occur. Possibly, as in love as I used to be, I simply wasn’t prepared and possibly the opposite individual wasn’t both.”
Their cut up gained renewed consideration in August 2025 following Brandon’s demise from most cancers at age 48, when it was revealed in his obituary that in his last years, he had been in a relationship with Brittney Marie “Bree” Jones — Kelly’s former private assistant — and that the 2 had been residing collectively on a Montana ranch they co-owned. An insider informed the Each day Mail that Kelly’s response to studying of the connection was considered one of deep damage, describing it as “simply the icing on the cake of the frustration [she] felt over the delusion of their marriage.”
“Brandon selected to maneuver on with somebody Kelly knew and trusted, and that simply provides to the individual he ended up being to her. He was an ideal father, however wasn’t an ideal husband,” the supply added.
How Many Youngsters Do Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock Have?
The ex-spouses share two kids collectively: son Remington Alexander and daughter River Rose. Kelly welcomed River Rose in 2014 and Remington in 2016.