Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Complete Relationship Timeline

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Kelly Clarkson first met her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, when she bumped into him at an awards show rehearsal in 2006. Years later, the pair reunited at the Super Bowl, where they quickly fell in love and eventually married and had two kids—River and Remington (in addition to the two kids Blackstock already had from his previous marriage).

However, everything changed early into the COVID-19 pandemic, when Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock due to increasing difficulties between them. Now, the two are engaged in legal battles as Clarkson sues her former husband for illegally receiving funds as her talent manager.

But despite the pair’s legal contentions, things weren’t always so Marriage Story between them. Ahead, revisit the couple’s entire relationship.

March 2024: Kelly countersues Brandon for violation of state labor laws.

A few months after a California judge ruled that Blackstock owed Clarkson $2.6 million for overstepping his legal limits as her manager (and following an appeal from Blackstock’s legal team), Clarkson responds with a cross-complaint.

The previous ruling considered assets dating all the way back to 2017, but Clarkson’s attorneys demand payment still owed from the Blackstock family company, Starstruck Entertainment. Since Starstruck was not licensed as a talent agency, Clarkson’s legal team alleges that this was done “as a subterfuge and fraudulent device to attempt to circumvent and evade the licensing requirements and other requirements, restrictions, and regulations of the Talent Agencies Act,” according to E! News.

In another segment from the filing, shared by People, attorneys representing the pop singer ask for “full and complete accounting from Starstruck of all monies received by Starstruck, directly or indirectly, in connection with any and all contracts, employment, or engagements pertaining in any way to the personal services of [Clarkson].”

November 2023: Kelly wins $2.6 million in suit against Brandon.

A judge rules that Blackstock owes Clarkson $2,641,374 for overstepping in his role as manager.

According to the ruling, when Blackstock helped the singer secure contracts for The Voice, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Wayfair, Norwegian Cruise Line, and the Billboard Music Awards, all of these deals (except for her talk show) should’ve been handled by Clarkson’s team at Creative Artists Agency.

However, Blackstock was paid commissions for helping Clarkson to secure each of these deals, which according to the California decision, was not proper protocol. In response, Blackstock is asked to pay all of the money back, with the ruling stating: “Under the Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager, like any person without a talent agency license, cannot procure or attempt to procure employment for artists.”

In response, Blackstock appeals the decision.

March 2023: Kelly announces a new album inspired by her divorce.

In an Instagram post, Clarkson reveals that she is set to release her 10th studio album, titled Chemistry, which is inspired by the arc of her relationship with Blackstock.

“All right, y’all. So, it is officially time to tell you,” she says in the clip. “I've been working on this project for, well, close to three years now, and I wasn’t sure I was going to release it. But I am, and the album is called Chemistry.”

She explains the title, noting, “I was trying to find a word—it might be one of the songs on the album—but I was trying to find a word that really described the whole thing. I didn’t want everybody to think I was just coming out with something just like, ‘I’m angry,’ ‘I’m sad’—just one or two emotions. This album is definitely the arc of an entire relationship.”

March 2022: Kelly and Brandon finalize their divorce.

After nearly two years of legal battles, Clarkson and Blackstock finalize their divorce, with Clarkson getting the Montana ranch in the settlement—while Blackstock gets a 5% share. Meanwhile, the singer also retains ownership of their family pets, multiple cars, and a flight simulator. However, she is ordered to pay Blackstock $1.3 million, as well as a continuous $45,000 per month in child support. Blackstock is also granted $115,000 per month in spousal support through January 2024.

November 2020: Kelly is granted primary custody of River and Remington.

In the midst of the pair’s separation, Clarkson is granted primary physical custody, per a ruling from a Los Angeles County judge.

According to court documents obtained by People, the decision reads: “The Court finds that under the circumstances present in this case, the interest in providing stability and continuity for the minor children weighs in favor of Petitioner [Clarkson] having primary custody.” They add, “The level of conflict between the parents has increased. The parties have a difficult time co-parenting due to issues of trust between them.”

June 2020: Kelly files for divorce.

Only a few months into the pandemic (during which Clarkson and Blackstock quarantine together in Montana), the pop singer files for divorce. The decision comes after nearly seven years of marriage.

At the time, an insider gives some context into the split during an interview with Us Weekly. “They clashed on so many levels, and being in quarantine together heightened their problems to the point of no return,” the source says. “So she filed for divorce.”

August 2019: Brandon convinces Kelly to start her talk show.

During an interview with People, Clarkson reveals that her husband was the one who convinced her to start her talk show.

“My husband and I were actually talking a lot of pillow talk over months and months of time,” she began, revealing that Blackstock supported their move to Los Angeles so that Clarkson could be closer to her work (the first four seasons of The Kelly Clarkson Show were filmed in Universal City, California). “Because we also lived in Nashville, so it was a big move for our family to move to L.A. We ended up moving our whole family out here. It was kind of a big decision for us, but it just seemed like a new adventure, honestly. My husband is a really good salesman on ideas. He’s just really good at pointing out things that maybe will push me out of my comfort zone, which is why we’re really great partners in life as well.”

April 2016: The couple welcome their second child together.

Clarkson is on cloud nine again when she gives birth to her second child with Blackstock. The singer turns to her usual form of communication—Twitter—to reveal the news, writing, “Our little baby boy has arrived!! Remington Alexander Blackstock was born 4/12/16 & he is healthy & we couldn’t be happier or more in love!”

While continuing the streak of “R” names, Clarkson and Blackstock also seem to be winking to their eldest, River, with the name choice. According to Nameberry.com, the name “Remington” means “place on a riverbank.”

August 2015: Kelly announces her second pregnancy.

With her daughter River barely a year old, Clarkson surprises fans at a Los Angeles concert when she announces that she’s pregnant with her second child.

The “Since U Been Gone” singer tells the crowd: “This is not how I wanted to announce [that I'm pregnant]. My makeup artist is backstage hating me. I didn't want you to think I’m on pills or something.”

She adds, “I would like to apologize to my husband. This was not planned. I’m just so hormonal. Everything is great, I haven’t vomited yet. That’s a win y’all.”

June 2014: Kelly gives birth to baby girl River.

A couple of days after giving birth to her first child, Clarkson shares the major update with a Tweet. “Our baby girl River Rose Blackstock arrived on June 12th! Thank you everyone for all of your well wishes! Brandon and I are on cloud 9!!:)”

Earlier, Clarkson had predicted that she would give birth to a baby girl, and those predictions turned out to be true. Either way though, Clarkson soon reveales on Ellen that no matter the baby’s sex, she was always going to use the same name, River, which was inspired by the location of her and Blackstock’s first home together.

November 2013: The pair reveal they’re expecting their first child together.

Clarkson turns to Twitter again for another major announcement, writing: “I’m pregnant!!! Brandon and I are so excited! Best early Christmas present ever:).”

That same month, she sits down for an interview with Parade magazine, where she says, “I’m totally gonna have a girl. I’m manifesting it! And when I have a girl, you’re gonna be like, ‘That chick knew it!’” (Later, Clarkson’s premonitions prove to be right when she gives birth to a baby girl.)

At this point, Clarkson is already a stepmom to Blackstock’s two children from his first marriage: Savannah and Seth. In the same Parade interview, she says this role totally changed her perspective on having children: “I didn't really grow up in a family environment, so I didn’t understand it or know if I could do that properly.”

But, she adds, “I’m gonna rock at being a mom! I’m almost looking at it like making a record, like, ‘I’m going to nail this!’ My mom was a single mom for a bit of my life, and even when she got remarried she was such a hard worker. You know, we were very poor and she didn’t have a lot. People say money doesn’t solve everything but it solves a whole lot, so it’s nice to have the financial stability to be there [for my child], whether I’m able to fly home after shows or take her with me. See how I’m calling her ‘her?’ I’m putting it out there!”

October 2013: Kelly and Brandon officially tie the knot.

On Twitter, Clarkson casually drops that she and Blackstock have tied the knot. “I’m officially Mrs. Blackstock:),” she writes. “We got married yesterday at Blackberry Farms in TN, the most beautiful place ever!”

The pair’s wedding photos are snapped by Koby & Elizabeth Brown, and on the photographers’ website, they give some insight into the ceremony, writing, “Kelly and Brandon’s wedding was a testament to the power of love and family. They opted for a simple, heartfelt ceremony on a covered bridge, surrounded by their closest loved ones. What made this wedding truly special was the inclusion of their children, adding an extra layer of emotion to the occasion.”

For the wedding, a blonde Clarkson wears a Temperley lace gown with floral appliqués and plunging V’s along the front and the back, which are accentuated by scalloped lace details. She pairs the romantic gown with a floral diamond headband from Maria Elena.

December 2012: Brandon pops the question.

After less than a year together, Blackstock proposes to Clarkson in December 2012. The “Walk Away” singer shares the exciting news to her Twitter account the following day, writing, “I’M ENGAGED!!!!! I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever:).”

Clarkson then shares a pic of the sparkler to her WhoSay account, revealing that it is a yellow canary diamond ring designed by Blackstock and Johnathon Arndt.

March 2012: The pair’s relationship is confirmed.

Only a month after their first date, Us Weekly confirms the pair’s relationship in a March 2012 report (as seen in this article from ABC News).

February 2012: The two reconnect at the Super Bowl.

Nearly six years after their first encounter, Clarkson and Blackstock reconnect at Super Bowl XLVI, where Clarkson sings the National Anthem. Despite the millions of people watching, Clarkson is only worried about one viewer: Blackstock.

She recounts these nerves during a Sirius XM Q&A years later, saying, “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. I wanted him to be like, ‘Damn.’ It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!”

A week after the Super Bowl, the pair go on their first date, which happens to be the same day music legend Whitney Houston passes away. In a quote from People, Clarkson says, “This is the funniest/worst thing ever: One of my superhero idols is Whitney Houston, and the day she died was our first date. I was like ‘This is a bad omen.’”

May 2006: Kelly and Brandon meet at a rehearsal for the ACM Awards.

Everything starts when Clarkson and Blackstock are introduced at a rehearsal for the 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards.

At the time, Clarkson is represented by Narvel Blackstock (AKA Brandon Blackstock’s father), and she is rehearsing for a performance with Rascal Flatts when she meets the country group’s tour manager, Blackstock.

When they meet, Brandon is married to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. However, Clarkson later reveals that she instantly felt a spark with the talent manager. “We were just in a room together, and then he came up and said he was from the same hometown as me and I was like, ‘Oh, we’re so getting married,’” Clarkson told Ryan Seacrest on his radio show. “I was so that girl...When he became single, I was on the prowl.”

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