Kelly Clarkson is not policing her children’s grief over ex Brandon Blackstock‘s passing, according to sources close to the situation.
It has been a year since the vocal powerhouse’s ex-husband passed away after a battle with a terminal disease, and when it comes to how their two children are choosing to mourn him, the singer has prioritized “support.”
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock finalized their divorce in 2022, two years after the star filed for the marriage to be dissolved after about seven years together.
5The songwriter and her two children, River, 12, and Remington, 10, have braved the storm of losing their father over the past year and even while he was terribly ill with skin cancer. Sources close to the singer explained that Clarkson is aware of the effect of a child losing a parent at such a young age, and so she has done everything within her power to be there for her two babies.
“Her focus has been making sure they feel loved, supported and as stable as possible while giving them the space to grieve in their own way,” the insider stressed. Blackstock had died on August 7, 2025, from an aggressive form of skin cancer known as melanoma; he was aged 48.
For the singer, who has nursed her grief quietly since last year, she is reportedly beginning to find her ground again. The insider revealed that while she still battles some very difficult moments behind the scenes, she is in a better place than she was when she was going through her divorce from the late manager.
As shared by the source to Page Six, Clarkson is very happy to be making music again and is having so much fun with the residency. Her return to “The Voice” is also the right fit for her headspace right now because it has allowed her to be the kind of mother she has always loved due to the less demanding schedule.
The ‘Stronger’ Singer Struggled Through The Three Years Of Her Ex’s Cancer Battle
5Blackstock died surrounded by his loved ones, who severely felt the impact, according to the statement from his family’s representative. As noted by The Blast, one of them was Clarkson, who reportedly felt the impact of his death and felt loss after his death.
Shortly after her marriage to Blackstock ended, the manager’s health started deteriorating, and this greatly affected Clarkson’s life and schedule. The singer reportedly had to deal with the reality that she was now a single mother to two children, demanding that she swing into full mom mode.
While they dragged through the custody battles and the legal blockades in their divorce, Clarkson made sure she never spoke ill about the talent manager to their children, making sure the positive memories of their father are preserved.
Kelly Clarkson Struck Out The Rest Of Her Residency Due To Brandon Blackstock’s Ailing Health
5One of the sacrifices Clarkson had to make was calling off the rest of her August 2025 residency when her ex’s health was getting worse. The decision was borne out of urgency to be there for her children as their father went through the ordeal.
Close sources from the singer’s camp shared that Clarkson is someone who strongly feels and sympathizes with people going through a difficult time. The singer felt bad for how their divorce went because his health struggles started somewhere around that time.
Aside from his two kids with Clarkson, Blackstock also shared two children with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. His stepmother, Reba McEntire, during an interview at the 2025 Emmys in September, revealed that the four kids are doing well a month after his death and bonding together.
The Talk Show Host’s Ex’s Death Uncovered A More Personal Revelation
5The Blast shared that one year after Blackstock and Clarkson finalized their divorce, Greg LaPoint, former husband to the singer’s former assistant Brittney Marie Jones, uncovered a shocking plot.
Apparently, Blackstock had been having an affair with Brittney; although it happened years after his separation from Clarkson, it did affect Brittney’s marriage to Greg. A source close to the former couple revealed that Greg felt cheated due to the fling, which started during his marriage to Brittney.
He reportedly told Clarkson’s former assistant to file for a divorce when he became aware of her romp with Blackstock, and they finalized the process in 2024. In 2022, Greg had gushed about Brittney on their first wedding anniversary, telling the world about their bond as partners with a promise to always be by her side during the dark days.
While Clarkson did not mention the affair in her divorce, she did affirm that the level of conflict between herself and Blackstock had increased. She noted that they had difficulties coparenting due to trust issues between them.
Inside Kelly Clarkson’s Exit From NBC
5When the singer ended her “The Kelly Clarkson” show with the network, it hinged on the need to spend more time with her kids after their father had passed. The goodbye was very emotional for everyone on set and the fans, but beneath that, there were also some challenges with the producers behind the scenes.
The singer was reportedly fond of abandoning directions in the script and doing things her own way, which often emphasized her down-to-earth personality. The producers often expected Clarkson to follow a structured rundown, while the singer preferred a natural approach to letting conversations flow.
Although her spontaneous nature created extra work for the producers and team at NBC, it was also one of the endearing factors of her show because it kept the audience relaxed, and the unscripted appeal resonated with the viewers.
Stay strong, Kelly Clarkson!
