Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock met in 2006, began dating around 2011–12, married in 2013 and had two children. Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020; their divorce settlement was approved in 2022. A separate commissions case was settled confidentially in 2024. Blackstock died of cancer in August 2025, aged 48.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s relationship timeline
2006: They meet at an awards-show rehearsal
Clarkson and Blackstock first met at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards, according to the Associated Press. They did not start dating then. The Associated Press reported their history.
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Around 2011–12: They begin dating
Accounts differ slightly on when the relationship began. Us Weekly places the start in late 2011, while the Associated Press says they reconnected at a Super Bowl and began dating in 2012. The most accurate summary is that they began dating around 2011–12.
December 2012: They get engaged
Clarkson announced their engagement in December 2012, 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.” Us Weekly reproduced the announcement in its relationship timeline.
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October 20, 2013: They marry in Tennessee
Clarkson and Blackstock married at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. Clarkson announced the wedding the following day: “I’m officially Mrs. Blackstock. We got married yesterday at Blackberry Farms in TN, the most beautiful place ever!” The Associated Press also dates their marriage to October 2013.
2014 and 2016: They welcome two children
Their daughter, River Rose, was born in June 2014. Their son, Remington Alexander, was born on April 12, 2016. Clarkson announced his arrival, 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!”
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2017–19: Clarkson speaks publicly about their life together
In 2017 interviews, Clarkson spoke affectionately about Blackstock, including telling Entertainment Tonight, “He makes me feel so sexy.” She also joked that their busy schedules had led them to forget two of their first four anniversaries. Those comments describe what she said at the time; they do not establish what later led to their separation.
In 2019, Clarkson described Blackstock’s support for the family’s move to Los Angeles and his encouragement to take on her talk show, as reported by Harper’s Bazaar.
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June 4, 2020: Clarkson files for divorce
Clarkson filed for divorce on June 4, 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. Entertainment Tonight’s report on court documents said she sought joint legal and physical custody, asked the court to enforce their premarital agreement and requested that each party pay their own attorney’s fees. Those requests were part of the filing, not the eventual custody outcome.
2020 onward: Custody proceedings and the end of the marriage
Reporting on court documents said Clarkson was granted primary custody. Harper’s Bazaar quoted the court’s stated concern for the children’s stability and continuity and reported that the ruling described increased conflict and co-parenting difficulties.
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They were declared legally single in August 2021, according to Us Weekly. A judge approved their divorce settlement in March 2022, formally resolving the divorce.
2023: Clarkson releases Chemistry and reflects on the split
Clarkson released Chemistry in June 2023. She described the album as covering the full arc of the relationship, not just its ending. “It’s every stage of a relationship, and that was very important to me, rather than just having a breakup album,” she told Variety.
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In an interview covered by the Los Angeles Times, Clarkson was candid about how difficult the divorce had been for her: “I’m not going to say I did it gracefully behind closed doors … just to be brutally honest I did not handle it well.”
2023–24: A separate commissions dispute ends in a confidential settlement
The commissions dispute was separate from the divorce. Variety reported that in 2023 a California labor commissioner ordered Blackstock to repay $2.6 million for commissions on deals the ruling said should have been handled by a licensed talent agency. The reported deals included work connected to The Voice, Norwegian Cruise Line, Wayfair and the Billboard Music Awards.
In May 2024, the parties asked to dismiss the remaining commissions case. Clarkson’s attorney, Ed F. McPherson, said, “The case has been settled in its entirety. It is a confidential settlement,” according to Entertainment Tonight. The terms were not disclosed in that report; the 2023 repayment order should not be mistaken for the settlement amount.
August 2025: Blackstock dies at 48
On August 6, Clarkson announced that she was postponing Las Vegas residency dates to be present for her children. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she wrote.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Associated Press reported on August 7 that Blackstock had died at age 48. A family representative told the AP that he had “bravely battled cancer for more than three years” and died peacefully surrounded by family.
Quick Recap
Key dates at a glance
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2006 | They meet at an Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsal. |
| Around 2011–12 | They begin dating; retrospective accounts differ between late 2011 and 2012. |
| December 2012 | They get engaged. |
| October 20, 2013 | They marry at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee. |
| June 2014 | Daughter River Rose is born. |
| April 12, 2016 | Son Remington Alexander is born. |
| June 4, 2020 | Clarkson files for divorce. |
| August 2021 | They are declared legally single. |
| March 2022 | A judge approves the divorce settlement. |
| June 2023 | Clarkson releases Chemistry. |
| May 2024 | The separate commissions case is settled confidentially. |
| August 2025 | Blackstock dies of cancer at age 48. |
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