Kelly Clarkson Reveals She Wasn’t ‘Happy’ In Brandon Blackstock Marriage: ‘We Both Deserved Better’

Kelly Clarkson opened up on her talk show about all of the ‘hard parts’ of going through her ‘horrible’ divorce, revealing that the process has been incredibly difficult, especially as a mother. 

Kelly Clarkson has always been so forthcoming with her legions of fans, and on the December 1 episode of her eponymous talk show, the singer, 38, confessed how difficult her divorce from her husband of nearly seven years, Brandon Blackstock, has been. “I’m obviously going through [a divorce] right now,” Kelly said while chatting with guests Alicia Keys and Untamed author Glennon Doyle. “It’s horrible,” she confessed. “There are so many hard parts. The hardest for me is the kids,” she continued, referencing her and Brandon’s two children — daughter River Rose, 6, and son Remington Alexander, 4.

“I think, as women especially, we’re trained to take it all on and deal with it and you’re fine. But it’s your babies that you worry about.” Glennon Doyle, who herself spoke about her own experience enduring her divorce, validated everything that Kelly was feeling. “We’ve all been trained to believe a good mother is a liar,” the Untamed author said. “I didn’t leave a marriage in spite of being a good mother; I left because I am a good mother.”

Glennon’s words completely resonated with Kelly. “That’s what I needed to see to make a step in my own life,” the Grammy-winner revealed. During her marriage to Brandon, Kelly finally understood something that totally altered her perspective. “This isn’t happiness, and we both deserve better. That line so hit home for me: I don’t want this for everyone in this scenario right now.”

Kelly’s comments come just two days after the singer was awarded temporary primary custody of the couple’s children. River and Remington will live with their mother in Los Angeles while Brandon will reside in Montana, seeing the kids on the the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month. Brandon has also requested $436,000 a month in spousal support and child support from the talk show host.

Kelly filed for divorce from Brandon in June 2020, after nearly seven years of marriage. During their relationship, Brandon wasn’t only Kelly’s romantic partner, he also worked as the successful singer’s manager. Over the course of the last few months, Kelly has opened up more and more about how trying this chapter in her life has been. But through it all, Kelly has completely remained her vulnerable, authentic self.