Kelly Clarkson Celebrates Long-Awaited Prenup News Amid Divorce
Divorce is never an easy thing to go through — and Kelly Clarkson knows this sentiment all too well.
According to Us Weekly, the "American Idol" winner first started dating her now-estranged husband, talent manager Brandon Blackstock, in 2011. Apparently, the two were pretty smitten with one another, because they were engaged by 2012 and married less than a year after that. By 2014, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named River, and their second child, a son named Remington, completed their family in 2016. (Blackstock also has two other children from his previous marriage.)
It seemed to be nothing but smooth sailing between Clarkson and Blackstock — that is, until it wasn't. Clarkson surprised fans when she filed for divorce in 2020, though things may have been going south for a while. "They clashed on so many levels, and being in quarantine together heightened their problems to the point of no return," a source explained to Us Weekly about the couple's separation.
Since Clarkson filed for divorce, things haven't exactly gone smoothly between the two. Though the couple had a prenup in place, Blackstock contested it and also requested income that Clarkson made during their marriage, via TMZ. Amid all the drama, there's finally been a breakthrough in Clarkson's divorce, and it's definitely one worthy of celebration. Keep reading to learn more about Clarkson's big prenup win!
Kelly Clarkson's divorce just got a little less messy
More than a year after filing for divorce, Kelly Clarkson has received some good news: her prenup is being upheld!
When Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock married in 2013, a prenup was firmly set in place, per TMZ. In the midst of their divorce, however, Blackstock contested the prenup, also requesting that the couple would split properties, meaning that he could continue living in the Montana ranch that Clarkson owns (via TMZ). But on August 12, 2021, a judge officially ruled in favor of upholding the prenup, signaling a huge win for Clarkson amid the contentious divorce.
Not only did Clarkson receive good news, but TMZ reports that she was on the set of "The Voice" when she got the email, leading to an impromptu celebration. Apparently, fellow judges on the show, including Ariana Grande, joined Clarkson in celebration when she got news of her prenup win.
According to Us Weekly, the news especially comes as a relief to Clarkson who will regain control of the Montana ranch. Clarkson described the ranch as a "financial burden" and expressed wishes to sell it. Now that her prenup is firmly being upheld, Clarkson can do whatever she pleases with her property and her money!
Why the Montana ranch was a pain point for Kelly Clarkson
Prior to Kelly Clarkson's prenup being upheld, TMZ reported on August 9 that Brandon Blackstock would be responsible for all payments on the Montana ranch. According to the outlet, the court declared that "ranch expenses run around $81,000 a month — from taxes to the mortgage and insurance, etc. — and ordered that Brandon will carry that burden." Yikes! That's quite a hefty chunk of change when you stop to consider that's more than eight times Blackstock's monthly income of approximately $10,000. Court records also showed that Clarkson's monthly income is an estimated $1.5 million per month, offering outsiders a hint as to why Blackstock tried to fight his prenup with "The Voice" coach in the first place.
The Sun reported that Blackstock dramatically changed his career aspirations after separating from Clarkson. According to court documents obtained by the outlet, "Respondent [Blackstock] testified that he works full-time as a rancher. He testified that he is not devoting any effort toward expanding his client list and music business," adding, "He further testified that he spends minimal time regarding his representation of his remaining client, Blake Shelton."
To put it simply, the court said that Blackstock is free to pursue his new career as a rancher, but he cannot expect Clarkson to pay for it. The Sun also reported that the ranch, known as Vintage Valley, was purchased by Clarkson at auction in 2019 for nearly $10.4 million.
Kelly Clarkson is getting 'stronger' after divorce
Kelly Clarkson has had a rough year, but it appears the "Stronger" singer is getting her mojo back. Page Six reported that the judge ordered Clarkson to pay Brandon Blackstock almost $200,000 in monthly spousal and child support payments — $150,000 for Blackstock, and more than $45,000 for the children — until the contested prenup could be assessed. But "The Voice" coach did not let it get her down. On August 11, according to court documents obtained by The Blast, Clarkson filed a motion in court to restore her last name legally. In July, the host of "The Kelly Clarkson Show" also asked to be declared legally single.
Now, People reported that Clarkson is focusing on being the best mom she can be. On August 4, a source close to Clarkson told the outlet, "Kelly is more than fine. She is doing great and facing forward. She's enjoying the fact that she has the kids for the vast majority of the time and is enjoying time spent with them." The superstar mom of two took daughter River and son Remington to Disney World in July. Clarkson posted on Instagram about their trip, with an adorable picture of her with the kids. Clarkson's caption read: "'These aren't the droids you're looking for.' We had so much fun at Disney World! All the rides were amazing, but oh my gosh, y'all, Pandora and the Star Wars rides are where it's at! Thank you for a magical vacation, Disney."
In addition to hashing out the details of their divorce, Clarkson is suing both Blackstock and his dad, Narvel Blackstock. She alleges their company, Starstruck Management, acted fraudulently in their capacity as her manager.