After locking horns in one of Hollywood’s nastiest divorces, Kelly Clarkson and ex husband Brandon Blackstock are back on civil terms, a source exclusively tells Life & Style.
The couple, who split in 2020, are “being more amicable now and coparenting with consideration,” according to the source. “They probably won’t be breaking bread, but they can see eye to eye about the kids and are generally pleasant to one another.”
The “Because of You” singer, 42, and her music manager ex, 47, first met in 2006. It was love at first sight, at least for Kelly, as she told People in October 2013, “I’ve only had three other boyfriends that I dated, and not really seriously. This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, ‘I’m gonna end up with him. I know it.’”
“Literally, I’m not joking, he walked past us at that time,” she continued, “I just felt something.”
Though Brandon was married to Melissa Ashworth at the time, he divorced his wife in 2012, paving the way for a relationship with the smitten singer after reconnecting at that year’s Super Bowl – with Kelly singing the national anthem and Brandon’s client, Blake Shelton, performing at the same event.
The American Idol alum even joked in 2017 that she wasn’t nervous about the millions of viewers watching her Super Bowl performance, but “didn’t want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy.”
“I wanted him to be like, ‘Damn.’ It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl.”
And “damn” Brandon was. They got engaged in December 2012. “I’M ENGAGED!!!!!” she posted on X. “I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.”
The two had two children during their marriage: daughter River Rose, 10, and son Remington, 8.
Their romance was ultimately doomed, however, as the television host filed for divorce in June 2020. Speaking to host Angie Martinez on the “IRL” podcast in March 2023, Kelly said their split, “wasn’t an overnight decision,” and that “there were many emotions. It was hard.”
“I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen,” she said.
Brandon filed for some big payouts outside of their prenup, including the demand he be allowed to stay in Kelly’s Montana ranch, which he called a “marital home,” despite being listed as the singer’s in their initial agreement. A judge would ultimately award Brandon five percent of the home, valued at over $900,000, plus a one-time payout of $1.3 million and $200,000 per month in alimony and child support from Kelly.
The source notes that, while Kelly would be well within her rights to hate Brandon for everything he’s allegedly put her through, that just doesn’t feel good to the singer.
“Kelly’s at a place in her life where she’s so happy and fulfilled,” the source says. “There’s no reason to hang on to grudges and let herself be weighed down by bitterness.”
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