Kelly Clarkson, the Grammy-winning singer and talk show host, has been through a lot in the past few years. She filed for divorce from her husband of seven years, Brandon Blackstock, in June 2020, and finalized it in 2022. Since then, she has been focusing on her music, her children, and her career, while also dealing with a legal battle with her former father-in-law and manager, Narvel Blackstock.
But has she found love again after her painful split? Is she dating anyone new, or even engaged, as some rumors suggest? Here is everything we know about Kelly Clarkson’s dating life as of 2024.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Relationship Timeline
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock first met in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards, where she was performing and he was managing Blake Shelton. Kelly said she felt an instant attraction to him, but he was married at the time to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth, with whom he had two children, Savannah and Seth.
They reconnected in 2012 at the Super Bowl, where Kelly sang the national anthem and Blake performed with his then-wife Miranda Lambert. Kelly and Brandon started dating soon after, and got engaged in December 2012. They tied the knot in October 2013 in a romantic ceremony in Tennessee. They welcomed their daughter, River Rose, in June 2014, and their son, Remington Alexander, in April 2016.
Kelly and Brandon seemed to have a happy and supportive marriage, with Kelly often gushing about him in interviews and on social media. However, things took a turn for the worse in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic forced them to quarantine together in their Montana ranch. Kelly later revealed that the lockdown exposed the cracks in their relationship, and that they had been having issues for a while.
She filed for divorce in June 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. She also requested primary physical custody of their two children, and asked the court to enforce their prenuptial agreement. She also sought to restore her maiden name, Kelly Clarkson, after being legally known as Kelly Blackstock.
The divorce process was not smooth, as Brandon and his father, Narvel, sued Kelly for $1.4 million in unpaid commissions, claiming that she owed them money for her work on The Voice and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Kelly countersued, accusing them of fraud and violating the California Labor Code. She also alleged that Brandon had been “emotionally abusive” and “extremely jealous” of her success.
The divorce was finalized in 2022, with Kelly being awarded primary physical custody of their children, and Brandon getting visitation rights. Kelly was also ordered to pay Brandon $150,000 per month in spousal support, and $45,601 per month in child support. She also had to pay $1.25 million in attorney fees. However, she won the legal battle with Narvel, as the court ruled that their oral agreement was invalid, and that she did not owe them any commissions.
Kelly opened up about her divorce in several interviews, saying that it was “extraordinarily hard” and “horrible”. She also channeled her emotions into her music, releasing her ninth studio album, Chemistry, in June 2023. The album featured songs about heartbreak, healing, and empowerment, such as “Broken & Beautiful”, “I Dare You”, and “Stronger”.
Is Kelly Clarkson Dating or Engaged to Anyone?
Following her divorce, Kelly is currently single, with no reports about any new relationships or engagements. Despite her current single status, Kelly has been open about her reluctance to date or get married again.
In December 2020, she told Entertainment Tonight that she “can’t even imagine” getting married again, and that she was “in that place where I think a lot of people, I’ve heard, that go through divorce, it’s almost like you start dating yourself again, like you actually make time for you again.”
In January 2021, she told Gwyneth Paltrow on her talk show that she was “not ready” to date, and that she was “very happy” being single. She also joked that she might end up with a woman, saying, “I’m actually not looking for it. It’s also a little hard when you have four kids and a show. I don’t have a lot of time for myself, so yeah, I’m not quite there yet. But I mean, it doesn’t mean I won’t be. Shoot, I might end up with a girl. I don’t know!”
In September 2021, she told Hoda Kotb on Today that she was “not there yet” when it came to dating, and that she was “enjoying” her time alone. She also said that she was “not looking” for love, and that she was “OK” with being single. She added, “I’m not one of those people that’s like, ‘Oh, I have to be with someone.’ I’m totally fine. I’m happy. I love my life.”
In December 2021, she told Rose McGowan on her talk show that she was “not ready” to date, and that she was “still in the stage of really enjoying me”. She also said that she was “not there” when it came to trusting people, and that she was “very guarded” after her divorce.
In January 2024, she told PEOPLE that she was “not interested” in dating, and that she was “happy” being single. She also said that she was “not looking for anything”, and that she was “content” with her life. She said, “I’m not interested in dating. I’m very happy being single. I’m not looking for anything. I’m content. I’m a very loving person. I love people. I love hanging out. But in that sense, I’m not looking for anything.”
Conclusion
Kelly Clarkson is one of the most successful and beloved singers and personalities in the entertainment industry. She has also been through a lot of personal challenges and changes in the past few years, especially with her divorce from Brandon Blackstock. However, she has shown incredible strength and resilience, and has used her music and her platform to inspire and empower others.
As of 2024, Kelly Clarkson is not dating or engaged to anyone, and she is not looking for love either. She is happy and content being single, and focusing on her children, her career, and herself. She has also said that she is open to whatever the future may bring, and that she is not ruling out anything. She is living her life on her own terms, and enjoying every moment of it.