Divorces can be complicated, especially when finances are involved, and Kelly Clarkson experienced this firsthand after her split from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock. But recently, there’s been a positive turn in her legal battle.
Kelly and Brandon were married in 2013 and divorced in 2021. Since then, their separation has been mired in financial disputes. However, Clarkson recently reached a settlement. During their marriage, Blackstock had also served as her manager, charging her commissions for his services. It has now come to light that he took a significant amount of money from her. A California labor commissioner determined that Blackstock had overcharged Clarkson, and he has been ordered to return around $2.6 million to the singer.
Despite the ruling, Blackstock is not backing down. He plans to challenge the decision in court. According to legal documents, Blackstock had been arranging jobs and negotiating deals for Clarkson, which included high-profile projects like “The Voice,” Norwegian Cruise Lines, Wayfair, and the Billboard Music Awards. The labor commissioner ruled that such tasks should be handled by a talent agent, not a manager, and that no exception applied in this case.
As a result, Blackstock now owes Kelly specific amounts tied to these projects: roughly $1.98 million for “The Voice,” $208,000 for her work with Norwegian Cruise Lines, $450,000 for the Wayfair deal, and a smaller amount of $93 for hosting the Billboard Music Awards. Clarkson had also sought compensation for her contributions to “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” but the court sided with Blackstock on that issue.
Kelly and Brandon’s marriage lasted almost seven years before she filed for divorce in the summer of 2020. Their legal battle extended beyond financial disputes, including custody of their two children, River Rose, 9, and Remington “Remy” Alexander, 7, as well as ownership of their Montana ranch. The divorce was finally settled in March 2022.
Following the split, Kelly found comfort in New York City, focusing on rebuilding her life. Reflecting on the challenges of the pandemic, she admitted, “I think COVID showed us a lot of things. Many of us had difficulties in our relationships.” During this time, she channeled her emotions into her music, releasing an album titled Chemistry, which was inspired by her personal experiences.
Now, Kelly has made it clear she’s content with her single life. Speaking to her Instagram followers in September, she stated, “Do I have a boyfriend? No! And not looking. You know why? I love being single.” She added humorously, “I have two kids, two dogs, three rabbits, a hamster, multiple jobs—there’s a lot going on.” Rebuilding after divorce is never easy, especially when you once thought you’d be with someone forever.
Kelly Clarkson’s resilience shines through. After facing numerous legal battles in recent years, this latest ruling is a well-deserved victory for her, and her fans are celebrating alongside her.
