Kelly Clarkson shared what should have been a “red flag” about her former husband before their divorce.
“It kills me,” she revealed after their separation while raising their children.
Grammy Award-winning singer Kelly Clarkson and her former spouse, Brandon Blackstock, got engaged in 2012 and wed a year later in October 2013 in Tennessee.
They welcomed two children, River and Remington. The couple parted ways following almost seven years of marriage in June 2020.
Several years after the separation, Clarkson described the experience as a “rough couple of years.” Moreover, after filing, she cited “irreconcilable differences” as the cause of their separation.
Their divorce was finalized in March 2022, and she was granted primary custody of the kids. When asked during an interview that same year about her summer activities with her brood, she said:
“The kids were with me and with their dad. It was nice because they usually have to travel a lot because of our separation, so we were both in Montana.”
Despite having primary custody, Clarkson pays Blackstock $45,601 monthly in child support. She also pays him $115,000 monthly in spousal support, and this will continue until January 2024.
Per documents obtained by “Today” in March 2022, the mother of two had to pay the talent manager a once-off payment of over $1.3 million in their divorce settlement.
Clarkson Reveals “Red Flag” before Divorce: She “Was Crying a Lot”
The television host spoke candidly about her relationship with her ex-husband in a recent episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
During an interview with Pink’s husband, Carey Hart, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, it was revealed that Blackstock did not get his now-former wife a push present while they were still together.
This came to light after Hart revealed he got his famous wife, with whom he shares two children, a motorcycle as a push present.
In addition, Chopra went on to explain what a push present is, and it seemed Clarkson did not know what it was.
She asked whether it is given to someone who delivers a baby via C-section too. The doting mother also exclaimed: “She got a motorcycle?!” while revealing:
“I didn’t get a present. That should have been a red flag.”
Still, Clarkson gave the producer the benefit of the doubt, saying, “I honestly don’t think that he knew [about a push gift].” After parting ways with Blackstock, the Hollywood star hesitated to release music about their separation and revealed why during an interview on “TalkShopLive,” saying:
“I was just crying, like, a lot. […] I just wrote a bunch of music, like two and a half years ago. And then I think the thinking came in when it was like, what’s appropriate and inappropriate.”
Clarkson spoke frankly about how her son and daughter are dealing with the divorce in a March 2023 interview. She appeared on an episode of the “Angie Martinez IRL” podcast and talked about raising her kids.
The songwriter explained how she ensures her children are in tune with their emotions. “I literally ask my kids every night when we’re snuggling up in the bed, ‘Are you happy? And if you’re not, what could make you happier?’ That’s it.”
When asked if they always tell her if they are happy, the Texas native admitted that is not the case all the time, adding it has been like this for the past years. “It kills me – and I want them to be honest, so I don’t ever say, ‘Oh, God, don’t tell me that,” she stated.
The “Stronger” hitmaker added how River and Remington responded to her question instead of saying they were happy. She revealed:
“You know, I’m just really sad. I wish Mommy and Daddy were in the same house.”
Clarkson noted she is grateful for her children’s sincerity because she wants them to be frank with her. The “American Idol” winner also comes from a broken family and can empathize with what her kids are going through following her split from Blackstock.
She tells them that she knows it is not easy but that they will eventually overcome it together, reminding them that they are both “loved” by her and their dad.
