Kelly Clarkson is officially divorced from her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. And while the news was undoubtedly sad, we understand that not all of our favorite couples will last forever.
So, who is Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband? Here’s everything we know about the 41-year-old’s relationship with her ex-husband and manager. (Yes, you read that correctly.)
The 46-year-old was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to parents Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter.
Like Clarkson, Blackstock is no stranger to the music industry. More specifically, he is a music manager (following in his father’s footsteps) with a list of clients that includes everyone from Rascal Flatts to Blake Shelton.
In addition to managing music talent, he’s also a pilot. In a 2013 People interview, Clarkson called him, "Mr. Manly Hunter Pilot Guy."
Oh, and we can’t forget to mention that country star Reba McEntire is his step-mom.
Let’s bring it back to 2006, shall we?
While Clarkson was rehearsing before the American Country Music Awards, Blackstock walked past her. Her manager at the time was Brandon’s dad, Narvel Blackstock, who revealed Brandon was in the same line of work. Unfortunately, Brandon was still married to his now-ex-wife Melissa Ashworth.
“This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, ‘I’m gonna end up with him. I know it,’” she told People in a 2013 interview.
The duo reconnected six years later at the 2012 Super Bowl, where Clarkson was set to perform. Country star Blake Shelton, who was also in attendance to perform “America the Beautiful,” was accompanied by his manager (you guessed it), Blackstock.
Not too long after that, they had their first date.
Nine months after that, the couple moved in together. Rumors quickly began circulating that they were also engaged.
However, Clarkson quickly put those rumors to rest during her appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “We are totally going to get married. We love each other. We are totally going to get married one day, but he has two children and I’m new…I mean, he’s gotta put a ring on it at some point, but I’ll wait it out,” she stated. And the next month, it happened.
The American Idol alum revealed the news in a Tweet. “I'M ENGAGED!!!!!” she wrote on Twitter. “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 couple tied the knot in Tennessee in fall of the following year.
They sure do.
Blackstone had two children from his previous marriage—daughter Savannah (21) and son Seth (16). The Since U Been Gone singer gave birth to the couple’s first child together, River Rose, in June 2014. And in August 2015, she made an impromptu announcement that she was pregnant with their second son, Remington “Remy” Alexander, who they welcomed eight months later.
Honestly, not too much. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the American Idol winner quietly filed in Los Angeles in 2020.
