Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Messy Divorce: Everything We Know

Credit: Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Sara De Boer/startraksphoto.com

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Messy Divorce: Everything We Know

Kelly Clarkson’s split from Brandon Blackstock is providing the singer with a lot of material for her next album as the pair battle it out in court. Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot in October 2013 after two years together. “I’m too happy. He’s ruining my creativity,” she gushed to Us Weekly before they exchanged vows. “I’m writing all this happy s—t. It’s killing me.” The twosome went on to welcome daughter River in 2014 and son Remington in April 2016. The talent manager also shares daughter Savannah and son Seth with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth. “I think parenting changes you in the best of ways,” Clarkson told Us in February 2020. “It’s made me stronger, but it’s definitely hard. It’s the hardest job out of all the jobs. … I think it makes you selfless. It makes you really prioritize.” Us confirmed in June 2020 that Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock after nearly seven years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The news came after the family of four spent several months living in Montana amid the coronavirus pandemic. [jwplayer 6ull3QIs-l3ahXupL] “I mean, it’s no secret. My life has been a little bit of a dumpster,” the “Stronger” songstress told Willie Geist in September 2020. “Personally, it’s been a little hard the last couple of months. I’ve been talking to friends that have been through divorce. I don’t know how people go through that without having some kind of outlet because it is the worst thing ever for everyone involved.” That same month, Clarkson noted that she was trying to “navigate” going through a public split. “You can ask anyone who’s gone through a divorce, I don’t think anyone expects it,” she told Hoda Kotb on the Today show. “You see yourself growing old with someone and then life has a different path. It’s so hard on everyone, and you know me, I’m really open. I try to be open and share … We all go through things. But at the same time, we have four kids total with each other. That’s a lot of hearts involved, and you just have to be really careful. … We’re in the public eye so that’s hard too, to try and be truthful but also keep your privacy.” Scroll through for more on Clarkson and Blackstock’s split and messy divorce: This is an ongoing article originally published in November 2020 and last updated on Wednesday, March 9. 

Credit: Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Sara De Boer/startraksphoto.com

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Messy Divorce: Everything We Know

Kelly Clarkson’s split from Brandon Blackstock is providing the singer with a lot of material for her next album as the pair battle it out in court. Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot in October 2013 after two years together. “I’m too happy. He’s ruining my creativity,” she gushed to Us Weekly before they exchanged vows. “I’m writing all this happy s—t. It’s killing me.” The twosome went on to welcome daughter River in 2014 and son Remington in April 2016. The talent manager also shares daughter Savannah and son Seth with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth. “I think parenting changes you in the best of ways,” Clarkson told Us in February 2020. “It’s made me stronger, but it’s definitely hard. It’s the hardest job out of all the jobs. … I think it makes you selfless. It makes you really prioritize.” Us confirmed in June 2020 that Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock after nearly seven years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences.” The news came after the family of four spent several months living in Montana amid the coronavirus pandemic. [jwplayer 6ull3QIs-l3ahXupL] “I mean, it’s no secret. My life has been a little bit of a dumpster,” the “Stronger” songstress told Willie Geist in September 2020. “Personally, it’s been a little hard the last couple of months. I’ve been talking to friends that have been through divorce. I don’t know how people go through that without having some kind of outlet because it is the worst thing ever for everyone involved.” That same month, Clarkson noted that she was trying to “navigate” going through a public split. “You can ask anyone who’s gone through a divorce, I don’t think anyone expects it,” she told Hoda Kotb on the Today show. “You see yourself growing old with someone and then life has a different path. It’s so hard on everyone, and you know me, I’m really open. I try to be open and share … We all go through things. But at the same time, we have four kids total with each other. That’s a lot of hearts involved, and you just have to be really careful. … We’re in the public eye so that’s hard too, to try and be truthful but also keep your privacy.” Scroll through for more on Clarkson and Blackstock’s split and messy divorce: This is an ongoing article originally published in November 2020 and last updated on Wednesday, March 9. 

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The Money

After Us confirmed the talk show host was ordered to pay her estranged husband nearly $200,000 in monthly support, a source clarified that the pair hadn't yet reached a "formal settlement" before finalizing their divorce. "It's expected to happen soon," the insider noted in July 2021, adding that their "prenup is not being contested, despite reports."

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The Reason for the Split

“They clashed on so many levels, and being in quarantine together heightened their problems to the point of no return. So she filed for divorce,” a source close to Clarkson told Us in June 2020. “Everyone thought Kelly and Brandon had the perfect marriage, but they definitely didn’t. Brandon’s very laid-back, whereas Kelly’s pretty high-strung.”

The source added that Clarkson spending more time in California “changed things” between them.

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Father-in-Law Drama

Brandon’s father Narvel Blackstock’s company, Starstruck Management Group, sued Clarkson in September 2020, claiming that their longtime client owes them $1.4 million in unpaid commissions in addition to the $1.9 million she already paid.

Clarkson has been working with her father-in-law’s company since 2007. The paperwork also alleged that the American Idol alum has not paid the total commission for her work on The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Voice in 2020, claiming she will owe the group at least $5.4 million by the end the year.

The “Since U Been Gone” singer countersued Starstruck in November 2020. In her docs, Clarkson accused the management group of violating the California Labor Code by “procuring, offering, promising, or attempting to procure employment or engagements” without being properly licensed.

Narvel fired back in a statement at the time: “[Clarkson's petition] conveniently ignores the fact that Kelly had her own licensed talent agency [Creative Artists Agency] at all times. While Starstruck Management Group provided talent management services on her behalf, it did so at all times that CAA was her agency of record," he continued. "It is unfortunate that Kelly is again attempting to avoid paying commissions that are due and owing to Starstruck to try and achieve some perceived advantage in her ongoing custody and divorce proceedings."

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The Custody Agreement

Us confirmed in November 2020 that Clarkson was granted primary custody of daughter River and son Remington.

“The Court finds that under the circumstances present in this case, the interest in providing stability and continuity for the minor children weighs in favor of Petitioner having primary custody,” the doc read. “The level of conflict between the parents has increased. The parties have a difficult time coparenting due to issues of trust between them.”

The former couple will share joint physical and legal custody of their kids and Blackstock will FaceTime the kids every day “at a mutually agreed upon time,” per the paperwork.

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L.A. vs. Montana

While Clarkson lives in Los Angeles for work, Blackstock plans to live in Montana. As a result, he will have to travel to California to have his two youngest children on the first and fifth weekends of the month in L.A., and the third weekend in Montana. "The court finds that the minor children are not now and have not been residents of Montana and that California is their home state,” the docs read.

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The Holiday Breakdown

The November 2020 docs revealed River and Remington spent Thanksgiving with their dad. Looking ahead to Christmas, Blackstock will have custody of their kids from December 19 through 25 at 2 p.m. until they are returned to Clarkson for the remainder of their school break through the New Year.

The exes are set to split spring break, with Clarkson having the children on Easter Sunday in April 2021.

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The Spousal Support

While Clarkson asked the court to enforce their prenuptial agreement and block spousal support, TMZ reports that he is seeking $436,000 a month —$301,000 in spousal support and $135,000 in child support — from the musician. He is also asking for Clarkson to pay his $2 million attorney fees.

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Coparenting

Like several celebrity couples, Blackstock and Clarkson are expected to use Our Family Wizard to “share calendars and documents regarding the children, including “significant school events, doctors appointments and therapist appointments.”

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Kelly’s New Music

It's likely fans will get more insight into their split while listening to Clarkson’s upcoming ninth album.

“This next record, this will probably be the most personal one I’ve ever released,” she teased during an interview on Sunday Today With Willie Geist in September 2020. “The whole record is basically every emotion you experience from the beginning of a relationship to the end of what it is now or where it is now. It’s been very therapeutic for me. It’s very honest.”

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The Hardest Part

“It’s horrible. There are so many hard parts. The hardest for me is the kids. That’s the hardest for me,” Clarkson said on her talk show in December 2020. "I think as women we are trained … to take it all on and you can deal with it and you’re fine, but it’s your babies that you worry about.”

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Work Drama

Us confirmed in December 2020 that the musician filed legal documents with the California Labor Commission in October, alleging that Brandon and his father Narvel’s Starstruck Management company defrauded her by charging her outlandish fees during her 13 years with the team. Clarkson claimed that her agreement with the management company was a “fraudulent and subterfuge device” that allowed her managers to perform “illegal services” as agents, which they were never licensed as in the state of California. The singer is seeking payment from all of the fees she paid out to the company over the years.

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Firing Back

Us confirmed in January 2021 that Brandon filed a response to Clarkson’s claims of defraud in November 2020. In the petition, which was filed with the California Labor Commission, Brandon denied all of Clarkson’s claims and said she was not entitled to any money that he, his father or their company earned while working with her for 13 years.

Brandon’s attorneys argued that the father-son pair and their company are not subject to the Talent Agencies Act because they did not perform their duties in California. They also said that if Clarkson were to prove her claims of the pair performing “illegal services” as unlicensed agents in California, Brandon’s attorneys would argue that she can only claim commissions for one year prior to her October 2020 filing, based on the one-year statute of limitations in the Talent Agencies Act. Brandon asked that Clarkson’s petition be dismissed and that she pay for his attorney fees.

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Making a Change

In documents obtained by Us in July 2021, Clarkson and her lawyer filed a motion for a separate trial to terminate her marital status. While Clarkson's divorce proceedings continue, she would be legally considered single. The paperwork also included a notice from the court that suggests that both parties meet to resolve the issues currently still pending in their divorce.

In the docs, Clarkson claimed she "has made good faith efforts to settle" while her estranged husband and his attorneys "have no intention of reaching a global settlement of this matter anytime soon."

"Irreconcilable differences have existed and continue to exist between [Brandon] and me, which have caused our marriage to irretrievably break down,” Clarkson wrote in the docs. “No counseling or reconciliation effort will be of any value at this time. There will be no prejudice to [Brandon] if our marriage is immediately dissolved. I have been attempting to reach a global settlement on this matter with [Brandon] since I led for divorce in June 2020. [Brandon] and I both deserve the opportunity to build a new life. Therefore, I am asking that my request to bifurcate and terminate marital status be granted."

Us confirmed in September 2021 that both Clarkson and Blackstock were declared legally single one month prior.

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Spousal Support

Us confirmed in July 2021, a Los Angeles County Court has ruled that starting on April 1, 2021, the “Miss Independent” singer became required to pay Blackstock $150,000 per month in spousal support. According to court docs obtained by The Blast, Clarkson must pay the talent manager $45,601 per month in child support bringing the total owed to Blackstock each month to $195,601.

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The Montana Ranch

Court documents obtained by Us in August 2021 revealed that Clarkson wanted to sell the Montana ranch that the couple shared during their marriage, but her request was denied. Blackstock has been living at the property, which according to the court costs $81,000 per month to maintain. The music manager is also planning a career change. During hearings in February and March, he testified that he plans to leave the entertainment industry to become a full-time rancher and rodeo sponsor. 

"The evidence in this case shows that after the date of Separation, Respondent made a very deliberate choice to change his life and become a rancher full-time," the judge wrote in court documents filed in August. "He testified that he is not devoting any effort toward expanding his client list and music management business. ... Respondent has made a very deliberate choice, that he testified he planned for a long time, to significantly change his lifestyle from primarily working in the music and entertainment industry to working in an agriculture community and lifestyle involved in full-time ranch and cattle work." 

The judge ordered that Blackstock must pay the maintenance costs associated with the ranch. If he fails to do so, Clarkson can file another motion to sell the property. 

That same month, Clarkson was granted most of the couple’s assets, including the Montana ranch where Blackstock was residing at the time.

The performer filed an objection later that month to clarify the ownership division of the Montana properties. According to legal documents obtained by Us, the prior order referred to all of the properties as the Montana Ranch, but there were, in fact, four separate properties.

Two of the properties have Clarkson listed as the only owner, but under the premarital agreement the "ownership is based on capital contributions," meaning based on who put in more money into each property.

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Finalizing Things

According to August 2021 court docs, Clarkson and Blackstock’s “marital or domestic partnership status” will end on January 7, 2022.

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A New Judge

During a November 2021 hearing, a privately compensated temporary judge was appointed to hear the estranged couple’s divorce proceedings, according to the court docs obtained by Us.

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Property Problems

“Kelly recently had a major legal setback in a bid to get Brandon evicted from the Montana property that the judge awarded soley to her,” a source exclusively told Us in December 2021 following the pair’s November 11 hearing. “He has been living in it and said he doesn’t have the financial means to afford to purchase a residence of his own at this time, citing the unresolved financial aspect of their divorce.”

While Clarkson addressed the court during the hearing, in hopes of getting her ex-husband booted from her Montana ranch, she was unsuccessful. “The judge sided with Brandon and ruled in his favor, the order just hasn't been formally signed off on,” the insider added, noting the pair would be back in court in February 2022.

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The Battle Ahead

In January 2022, an insider exclusively told Us that Clarkson was gearing up to fight for what she wants in an upcoming trial over the former spouses' property. “She is devoting 100 percent of any free time she has preparing for the trial,” the source explained. “When not filming her talk show, she is hunkered down with [attorney] Laura Wasser.”

That same month, the "Because of You" songstress agreed to give her ex-husband a 5.12 percent share of the Montana ranch, equaling $908,800 of its total $17,750,000 value. In December 2021, she had failed in her bid to have Blackstock evicted from the property.

“She will not even entertain the idea of settling with Brandon,” the insider added. “He will not get one penny from her that isn’t ordered by the judge. It’s going to be nasty.”

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Officially Done

In March 2022, a judge approved the duo's divorce settlement, granting Blackstock $115,000 each month in spousal support until January 2024. He will also receive a monthly amount of $45,600 in child support, with Clarkson being awarded primary custody. Blackstock will be able to remain in the former couple's Montana ranch until June and must pay his ex $12,500 in monthly rent until then.

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Clarkson Files to Change Her Name Amid Divorce

In February 2022, amid her divorce from Blackstock, Clarkson filed a petition to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne. As she explained in court documents obtained by Us, her first and middle name "more fully reflects who I am."

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Clarkson Is Legally Kelly Brianne, Clarifies Name Change

According to court documents exclusively obtained by Us, the "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" singer's legal name change was finalized in late March — just several weeks after she settled her divorce from her ex.

“There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted,” the documents state. “The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner's name is changed from KELLY BRIANNE CLARKSON to KELLY BRIANNE.”

The Kelly Clarkson Show host clarified the moniker switch earlier in March, telling People (the TV Show!) that she'll still keep her last name professionally. “I just got divorced, so I had to drop my married last name. I just kept my middle name for my personal life. I’m still Kelly Clarkson,” she explained at the time. “I don’t think I can change Clarkson at this point. I’m 20 years in!”

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The Security Cameras

In May 2022, Clarkson was ordered to disable all of the security cameras on the highly-contested Montana ranch whenever Blackstock stays on the property. In court documents obtained by Us, a judge decreed that in addition to turning off the 13 “webcams, trail cams, and any other security cameras” on the property, she must also “send verification” to Blackstock and his lawyers that she complied with the order. “[Clarkson’s] counsel shall further advise and specify how that was accomplished,” the documents read.

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Moving Out of the Ranch

One month later, Us Weekly confirmed that Blackstock finally moved out of the ranch, two years after their split. Per the former couple's March 2022 settlement, he has 10 days to move his personal belongings, and anything related to his business off the property and will need permission to visit the ranch going forward.

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A 'Thorn In Her Side'

"[Brandon] wanted to fight the order [to leave] but was ultimately talked out of it," a source told Us in June 2022 about their battle over the ranch. Though Clarkson is thankful to have that issue settled, the insider added that Blackstock "is always asking for more and being a constant thorn in her side."

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Moving Out and Moving On

In June 2022, Us confirmed that Blackstock purchased a $1.8 million home in Butte, Montana, nearly one month after the couple's divorce was settled. Along with his new house, which was purchased in April 2022, Blackstock registered his cattle ranch under a new name, V bar V Cattle Co., where he will continue his pursuit of trading in his job in the entertainment industry for a full-time role as a rancher and rodeo manager.

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A Touchy Subject to Write Music About

Clarkson revealed that the divorce delayed her releasing new music during a June 2022 appearance on The Chart Show With Brooke Reese. When asked how soon fans could expect her next album, the talk show host replied, "Everybody knows the huge divorce I went through and it’s been like two years and not easy with kids."

She continued, "I'm just navigating what [music] I'm comfortable with releasing. So, it's just a hard thing to navigate. It's coming. I just got to get my crap together. I just got to figure out what I'm going to release. ”