Kelly Clarkson Called Her Life a ‘Dumpster’ after Split - She Has to Pay Millions to Ex after Messy Divorce

Kelly Clarkson shocked the world when she announced she was divorcing her husband, Brandon Blackstock. Now that the divorce has been finalized, the singer has been ordered to pay her ex-husband millions.

Kelly Clarkson suddenly filed for divorce from her longtime husband, Brandon Blackstock, in June 2020. At the time, the couple had been married for almost seven years with a background story that seemed like a fairytale.

In 2006, the former couple first met at the Academy of Country Music Awards. As Rascal Flatts's tour manager, Brandon was at the event while Clarkson rehearsed a duet with the country group.

Six years after meeting, the pair saw each other again at the Super Bowl, and that is when Clarkson and the tour manager's friendship turned into a romantic relationship.

The couple's relationship eventually led to marriage but then ended in divorce. During the divorce proceedings, the country music singer was ordered to pay her ex-husband millions, and we look at the details of the messy divorce.

KELLY AND BRANDON'S LOVE STORY

Clarkson and Brandon hit things off in 2012 at Super Bowl XLVI. The tour manager's father, Narvel Blackstock, happened to reintroduce the pair after Brandon's divorce from his first wife.

In May 2012, Clarkson confessed to Daily Mail that she knew Brandon as her manager's son for around six years at that point, but he'd been unavailable because he was married.

"The Kelly Clarkson Show" host said when she met him again at the sporting event, he was suddenly single. The star recalled how they started flirting at the sporting event:

"I remember that because my Super Bowl performance, that was, like, our first time we started flirting. And I was like, 'I'm so into you, make out with me!'"

Clarkson was at the sporting event to sing the National Anthem. She and Brandon clicked due to their mutual understanding of the music industry, and the singer revealed later that year that she had "high hopes" for their relationship.

Clarkson's wishes came true as her boyfriend proposed to her within ten months of their relationship! The tour manager asked for the country musician's hand in marriage with a yellow canary diamond ring.

On December 15, 2012, the singer confirmed the news with a tweet. In capital letters and plenty of visible excitement, the star announced that she was engaged and added:

“I wanted y'all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever :)."

A year after their second meeting, in June 2013, the country singer shared her views on their relationship with Cosmopolitan and said:

“Brandon's totally the one. I've never been so happy."

The duo tied the knot in October 2013 at Walland, Tennessee's Blackberry Farm. In an episode of her talk show, the star revealed that she and her husband ended up eloping:

"We had this big plan and then we just took our kids and then got married with this person we didn't even know—but it was the most amazing thing—under a little barn on a river. It was so beautiful!"

Before the pair tied the knot, Clarkson confessed how her fiance was ruining her music. While speaking to Us Weekly, the lovestruck country music star jokingly admitted:

“I’m too happy. He’s ruining my creativity. I’m writing all this happy [expletive]. It’s killing me.”

Her fans saw a glimpse of the special day when the artist shared a video that was set to the background music of Patty Griffin singing "Heavenly Day." Soon enough, the couple started growing their family.

Their daughter, River Rose Blackstock, was welcomed on June 12, 2014. Two years later, the family had another addition, son Remington Alexander Blackstock. Before welcoming her children, Clarkson already had practice with her stepchildren.

She took on the role of stepmother to Brandon's two children, Seth and Savannah, from his first marriage. Speaking to Redbook for its December/January 2018 issue, Clarkson shared how having a blended family never took away from her marriage to Brandon, saying:

“To keep it family appropriate, let’s say we’re just a lot more active than other couples. I’m a person who loves change. He loves spontaneity."

Brandon also supported his wife when he sat in the front row of the 2018 Billboard Music Awards with Savannah to cheer Clarkson on. At the time, "The Voice" coach hosted the award ceremony.

In February 2020, the country singer tackled parenting with Us Weekly. She shared how the new role had changed her life for the better, honestly confessing to the publication:

“I think parenting changes you in the best of ways. It’s made me stronger, but it’s definitely hard. It’s the hardest job out of all the jobs. … I think it makes you selfless. It makes you really prioritize.”

MESSY DIVORCED FINALIZED

When Clarkson filed for divorce, she cited "irreconcilable differences." While speaking to Willie Geist in September 2020, the country music singer opened up about her divorce process, stating:

“I mean, it’s no secret. My life has been a little bit of a dumpster... 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.”

The songstress also discussed her divorce on the "Today" show with co-host Hoda Kotb that same month. She admitted that no one who was going through a divorce expected it, before adding:

"You see yourself growing old with someone and then life has a different path. It’s so hard on everyone..."

Besides battling it out with her ex-husband in court, Clarkson was also sued by Starstruck Management Group, a company owned by Narvel. Brandon's father said she owed them $1.4 million in unpaid commissions despite having already paid $1.9 million.

The singer had been working with the company since 2007, leading the songstress to countersue. The paperwork claimed Clarkson hadn't paid commission for her work on "The Voice" and her talk show in 2020 and owed $5.4 million by the end of the year. In December 2020, the musician confessed on her show:

"There are so many hard parts. The hardest for me is the kids... 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.”

The "Since U Been Gone" singer also revealed on her show that dealing with the divorce might be hard for her, but she worried more about her children. Clarkson shared:

"I'm a mama bear and my kids come first."

Her divorce from Brandon was finalized this year, with court documents obtained by The Blast. Clarkson has to pay her ex-husband over $1.3 million, once-off, and monthly child support of $45,601 for their two children. Additionally, Clarkson has to fork out $115,000 to Brandon in spousal support each month until January 31, 2024.

The source said the star was now able to start a new chapter with her children.

Brandon will stay at his and his ex-wife's Montana ranch. However, he would have to pay the "Stronger" singer $2,000 a month until June, while she also got their Toluca Lake, California house.

KELLY CLARKSON IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD

According to a People source, Clarkson is ready to move on now that her divorce has been finalized. The insider shared how the singer was doing and what she felt about her children, stating:

"Kelly is obviously happy to have the divorce finalized. The kids have always been her main priority... She truly is able to begin the next chapter of her life with her kids... She's in a great place."

The source said the star could now start a new chapter with her children. The couple would have joint custody of their children, but their offspring would stay with Clarkson in Los Angeles, with a second insider saying:

"Kelly always worked so hard and is a great mom. She is very relieved that the divorce is settled. She just wants to be with her children."

In August 2021, a source close to the singer allegedly told People that the singer was "more than fine." The star was doing well and facing the future while enjoying that she had custody of her children most of the time.