Ups and Downs! Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Complete Divorce Timeline

They Had Issues

Kelly has always been candid about her life, including struggles in her relationship with Brandon. “If I sat here and told you that everything was perfect, that’d be a damn lie in anybody’s relationship,” the “Heartbeat Song” artist divulged during a Facebook Live in November 2018. “But you have to work at it.”

Boiling Point

An additional insider revealed to Life & Style the coronavirus pandemic hindered their marriage, noting Kelly “hated” isolating with Brandon. 

A Long Time Coming

“They haven’t been getting along for a while and clashed on so many levels,” continued the insider. “They’ve grown apart over the years and being in lockdown together heightened their problems.”

A Big Step

Kelly filed for divorce on June 4, 2020, citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. She said at the time she was seeking joint physical and legal custody of River and Remington.

She’s Protected

Kelly asked the court to deny any request for spousal support and enforce the prenuptial agreement filed prior to their wedding in 2013.

A Tough Time

“She’s finding her divorce more difficult to deal with than she anticipated,” another source told Life & Style about the Grammy winner. “Kelly thought that moving forward with the divorce the right thing to do at the time, but now that Brandon has filed documents responding to her petition, she’s having some regrets.”

On the Same Page?

Brandon responded to Kelly’s divorce petition on July 21, 2021, and also said he was seeking joint physical and legal custody of their two children.

Unsure of Their Uncoupling

Both parties also listed “to be determined” as the date of separation.

Getting Messy

“I mean, it’s no secret. My life has been a little bit of a dumpster,” Kelly confessed to Willie Geist during an interview 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.”

Back to Work

Kelly returned to The Voice as a coach for season 19 amid her divorce in October 2020. She looks flawless every time she takes the stage. 

Surprising Turn

In November 2020, Life & Style obtained court documents granting Kelly primary custody of their children. 

Where Do They Live?

Kelly lives in Los Angeles, but Brandon plans on residing in Montana following their breakup. “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 documents read.
Brandon will have River and Remington the first and fifth weekends of the month in Los Angeles and the third weekend in Montana.

What About the Holidays?

The young children spent Thanksgiving with their dad but will split their time for Christmas. According to the docs, Brandon will have custody of River and Remington from December 19 to 25 at 2 p.m. They will be returned to their mother, where they will stay for the remainder of their school break through the New Year. 
They will also split spring break with Kelly having the kids for Easter Sunday in April 2021.

Pay Up

Although Kelly asked the court to enforce their prenup and block requests for spousal support, TMZ reported Brandon is seeking a monthly payment of $301,000 in spousal support and $135,000 in child support, totaling $436,000 per month. He is also asking for his estranged wife to pay his $2 million attorney fees. 

Honesty Hour

“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.”

Another Lawsuit

In October, Clarkson filed legal documents with the California Labor Commission, which were obtained by Life & Style in December, alleging that Blackstock and his Starstruck Management company defrauded her by charging her outlandish fees during her 13 years with the team.

She claimed Blackstock and his father, Narvel Blackstock, were not licensed in the state of California to be agents and wants to recoup all the money she paid to the company during the years in which they acted as her agent.

Never Again?

Kelly opened up about the possibility of walking down the aisle again while speaking with Gwyneth Paltrow, who married second husband Brad Falchuk in September 2018, on her talk show.

“Coming from someone who’s literally amidst a divorce, I can’t even imagine doing it again,” the singer admitted. “So, that’s amazing that you found love, and you found the space and the vulnerability — that level to say yes and do it again.”

A New Chapter

Kelly’s lawyer filed a motion for a separate trial to terminate her marital status, according to documents obtained by Life & Style on July 3. If granted, the singer would be considered legally single while the divorce proceedings continue.

More Money, More Problems?

Life & Style confirmed in July 2021 the Texan was ordered to pay her ex an estimated $200,000. However, a source clarified to Us Weekly that they have not reached a “formal settlement.”

“It’s expected to happen soon,” the source said, noting that their “prenup is not being contested, despite reports.”

She Wants Her Name Back

In August 2021, Life & Style confirmed the “Breakaway” singer asked the judge to legally restore her last name.

Brandon Jealous of Kelly’s Massive Earnings

Money and jealousy were two of the alleged reasons behind the split. “The relationship had been on the rocks for a long time,” an insider told Us Weekly on August 18, 2021. “She was the high-income earner with a wildly successful talk show and is the star of another hit show The Voice. Brandon was extremely jealous of it and made her know it.”

Court documents showed that Kelly earns nearly $2 million per month, and “Brandon was just using her for her money and lifestyle” before they called it quits,” the source told Us. The insider added, “The marriage was really, really awful at the end … Kelly felt that she could no longer trust Brandon. She had a lot of questions that he just couldn’t answer. She just wasn’t willing to look the other way anymore.”

A rep for Kelly and Brandon’s legal team did not immediately respond to Life and Style’s requests for comment.

New Beginnings

Kelly and Brandon have been declared legally single, according to court documents obtained by Life & Style on September 24, 2021. Their “marital or domestic partnership status” will officially end on Friday, January 7, 2022.

‘Tough Holiday’

Kelly touched on her ongoing divorce during the Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around NBC special on December 1, before singing her new track, “Merry Christmas (To the One I Used to Know).” 
“I had just put my kids to bed, and I was just going through it, having a really hard time and it’s been a really tough year for a lot of us,” the “Sing U Been Gone” artist said during the event. “And I wrote this song for me, but also because there aren’t many holiday songs for people feeling alone or lost or just plain sad … It’s about getting through a tough holiday.” 

The End

On March 8, 2022, TMZ reported that they reached a final divorce settlement. Per the publication, the judge signed off on Kelly having primary custody of their two kids, while Brandon will have them for one weekend per month. Brandon will also receive $115,00.00 in spousal support ending in January 2024.

The ‘Hardest Part’

After their divorce was finalized, Kelly reflected on the split during a June 6, 2022, episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show.

“There are so many hard parts and the hardest for me is the kids,” she shared, noting that “female friendships” are what helped her get through the tough times. “That’s the hardest part for me. You know, I always think as women, especially we’re 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.”