Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's relationship timeline: the ups and downs
The exes were married for almost 10 years before they finalized their divorce in 2022.
Clarkson, 43, and Blackstock, who passed away at age 48 on Thursday, Aug. 7, share kids River Rose, 11, and Remington 'Remy' Alexander, 9.
15 Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson attend Billboard's Women in Music Awards.
Getty Images for FIJI Water
In March, the 'American Idol' winner opened up about co-parenting, stating that there is a double standard when it comes to working moms and working dads.
Clarkson joked she looks 'like [an] a–hole' when she can't show up to her child's function due to work, but when Blackstock can't make it, he isn't met with the same response.
'And then [my daughter] is like, 'Why weren't you there? This person's mommy was there,'' the Grammy winner explained on Kylie Kelce's 'Not Gonna Lie' podcast.
15 Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock attend the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
Getty Images for NARAS
'And I'm like, 'Congratulations to her because she made different decisions that led to her being able to be there on a Thursday at 10 a.m.''
Clarkson and Blackstock first split in 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage, and officially finalized their messy divorce two years later.
Keep reading for a complete look back on Clarkson and Blackstock's relationship.
15 Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock arrives at the 60th Annual GRAMMY Awards.
WireImage
May 2006: Clarkson and Blackstock meet
The former couple first crossed paths during a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006.
'My guitar player's wife Ashley was my date for that night and we had just both been in crap relationships,' Clarkson shared in 2017. 'Sometimes it sucks dating because it's so many wrong ones until you get the right one.'
She continued, 'And we were like, 'OK, what we've been doing wrong here' — because it was a country music event and we're both southern girls — we were like, 'We've been dating skinny jeans and we need Wranglers.''
15 Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson.
Then, Clarkson spotted the former stepson of Reba McEntire.
'Literally, I'm not joking, he walked past us at that time,' she detailed. 'And he walked by, I was ready to take it all off. I just felt something.'
At the time of the award show, Blackstock was still married to his then-wife, Melissa Ashworth. The two, who share daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth, 18, divorced in 2012.
February 2012: Clarkson and Blackstock reconnect
Despite crossing paths years earlier, the former flames reconnected in 2012, while Blackstock's father, Narvel, was Clarkson's manager.
The artist was performing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Next to her was Blake Shelton, who was managed by Blackstock, singing 'America the Beautiful.'
'I was so nervous because it wasn't that I didn't want to suck for the millions of people watching, I didn't want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy,' Clarkson admitted to SiriusXM in 2017. 'I wanted him to be like, 'Damn.' It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!'
15 Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock in 2013.
Getty Images for ACM
Clarkson and Blackstock had their first date on February 11, 2012. The day held major significance to Clarkson since it was also the day her idol, Whitney Houston, died.
'This is the funniest/worst thing ever: One of my superhero idols is Whitney Houston, and the day she died was our first date,' Clarkson shared in 2013, per People. 'I was like, 'This is a bad omen.''
December 2012: Clarkson and Blackstock get engaged
'I've only had three other boyfriends that I dated, and not really seriously,' Clarkson admitted to People in 2013. 'This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, 'I'm gonna end up with him. I know it.''
And she was right.
The pair got engaged in December 2012, with Clarkson sharing the happy news on Twitter.
15 Brandon Blackstock attends the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California.
Getty Images
'I'M ENGAGED!!!!!' the talk show host gushed. 'I wanted y'all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.'
Blackstock popped the question at their Nashville house.
Clarkson recalled to People about the proposal: 'Out of nowhere I just said, 'Thanks for being an awesome guy.' I've never been loved properly by a man, and I was just like, 'I thank you so much for that.''
15 Kelly Clarkson kicks off new Las Vegas residency.
Getty Images for Live Nation Las Vegas
Blackstock then got down on one knee.
'Not a damn clue!' she continued to the outlet. 'If I did, I would have worn something besides Uggs and a sweatshirt with no bra.'
October 2013: Clarkson and Blackstock get married
Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot on October 20, 2013.
At the time, the musician tweeted, 'I'm officially Mrs. Blackstock :) We got married yesterday at Blackberry Farms in TN, the most beautiful place ever!'
'I was so emotional, and I didn't realize I was going to be!' Clarkson dished to People in 2020.
15 Kelly Clarkson shares her wedding photos.
Koby Brown
'During the ceremony, Seth looked up and was like, 'What's wrong with her?'' she recounted. 'I was like, 'I'm just so happy!''
Clarkson also touched on becoming a blended family with Blackstock's kids.
'My best friend always say, 'You just want to create the family you never had.' I might be doing that,' Clarkson said. 'In defense of my family, it happens. People fall out of love, and people go separate way. People are human. I've accomplished a lot, but I guess the biggest success I want is that whenever I die people will say, 'She was so successful as a mother and as a wife.' That's kind of a big goal.'
June 2014: River Rose Blackstock is born
Clarkson and Blackstock welcomed their first child together, daughter River Rose, months after tying the knot.
'Our baby girl River Rose Blackstock arrived on June 12th!' the new mom posted on X at the time. 'Thank you everyone for all of your well wishes! Brandon and I are on cloud 9!!'
In 2023, Clarkson had her daughter join her on stage at the Bakkt Theater at the Planet Hollywood Las Vegas Resort & Casino to perform a duet of 'Heartbeat Song.'
15 Brandon Blackstock with his kids.
kellyclarkson/Instagram
Her son also came on stage to showcase his dance moves.
'Both of my kiddos backstage getting ready to join me on stage in Vegas,' Clarkson gushed on Instagram the next day. 'Nothing will ever be as cool and amazing as these two little humans that will always have my whole heart.'
April 2016: Remington Alexander Blackstock is born
Clarkson announced she was pregnant with her second child in a very public way.
During a performance in Los Angeles, she became emotional while introducing her song 'Piece by Piece.'
'I was not planning on announcing this, but … I'm totally pregnant. I'm having a really hard time,' she told the audience.
15 Kelly Clarkson poses with her children.
kellyclarkson/Instagram
'I'm gonna nail the s–t out of this song. That was not how I wanted to announce that… I hate this song right now,' Clarkson teased. 'My makeup artist is backstage hating me right now. I just don't want you to think I'm on pills or drunk.'
After finishing the song, she told the concertgoers, 'I'd like to apologize to my husband. That was not planned. I just didn't want you to think I was crazy or something. Honestly, I'm just so hormonal today… I haven't vomited yet. That is a freakin' win, y'all.'
On April 12, 2016, Clarkson and Blackstock welcomed their son, Remy.
15 Kelly Clarkson poses with Remy and River.
kellyclarkson/Instagram
At one point, Clarkson's son suffered from hearing issues and delayed speech. The hearing issue set Remy back 'almost nine months' in communicating.
'The big milestone for us is Remy getting to really find out his own personality and his identity, because it's been frustrating for him to not be able to really vocalize his emotion,' Clarkson told People in 2020. 'The fact that he's making full sentences now and full-on engaging with us is really a blessing.'
June 2020: Clarkson files for divorce
After almost seven years of marriage, Clarkson filed for divorce on June 4, 2020, citing irreconcilable differences.
November 2020: Clarkson wins temporary primary custody
In November 2020, Clarkson was awarded temporary primary physical custody of River and Remy.
According to court documents, 'the level of conflict between the parents [had] increased' and that they had 'a difficult time co-parenting due to issues of trust between them.'
The documents also stated that Clarkson and Blackstock agreed that they 'shall not speak in a derogatory manner about the other parent to the minor children. The custodial parent shall not allow the minor children to be in the presence of any third party who speaks about the other parent in a derogatory manner.'
15 Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock, Savannah Blackstock, River Rose Blackstock, Remington Alexander Blackstock, and Seth Blackstock attend STX Films World Premiere of 'UglyDolls.'
FilmMagic
One month after the court's decision, Clarkson alleged that Blackstock acted fraudulently as her manager. He denied defrauding his estranged wife out of millions.
At the time, Clarkson also told Entertainment Tonight that the 'thing that's been kind of hard to navigate is I am an open book, but at some point I'm a mama bear more than I am a person in the public eye.'
'So I care 100 percent more about my children than I do anything else on this planet.'
March 2022: Clarkson and Blackstock's divorce is finalized
In March 2022, a judge approved the exes' divorce settlement, granting Blackstock $115,000 each month in spousal support until January 2024. The talent manager also received a monthly amount of $45,600 in child support.
Clarkson is also officially awarded primary custody of the kids.
Fall 2023: Clarkson relocated to New York City
'The Kelly Clarkson Show' relocated to New York City, with the mom-of-two bringing her children with her.
'The move to N.Y.C. was a fresh start for her that she has never regretted,' an insider told People in 2024. 'She had not been happy in Los Angeles for a while but was still nervous about moving. It was the best decision for her though. They thrive as a family.'
Blackstock, meanwhile, resided in Butte, Montana, after moving out of the family's original Montana ranch.
15 A still from 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.'
The Kelly Clarkson Show/Youtube
January 2024: Clarkson opens up about the split
Clarkson told People at the time she poured a lot of her emotions from her divorce into her album, 'Chemistry.'
'I didn't see it other than: This is my outlet,' she told the publication. 'I'm a let-go person; I don't hold grudges. So it was really delving into what happened in my life and why — and what am I going to do about it?'
Clarkson said releasing the album '[was] like, 'I'm taking my power back.''
15 Kelly Clarkson performs on stage.
Getty Images for Live Nation Las Vegas
'I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet. Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard,' she added. 'You feel alone, and it's just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming.'
August 2025: Blackstock dies of cancer
On August 7, 2025, it was announced that Blackstock died at age 48 after a private cancer battle, with sources telling TMZ he had melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer.
'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,' his family said in a statement obtained by The Post read.
'He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time,' they concluded.
15 Kelly Clarkson cancels Las Vegas residency opening.
Instagram/@kellyclarkson
Blackstock's passing comes just hours after Clarkson abruptly postponed the remaining August shows of her Las Vegas residency, Studio Sessions.
She previously canceled opening weekend in July.
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