Kelly Clarkson’s Emotional Return After Ex-Husband’s Death

Kelly Clarkson returned to television for the first time since the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

Blackstock, who was married to Clarkson for nearly seven years before their divorce in 2022, tragically died from melanoma, at the age of 48, on August 7. 

The former couple shared two children together, River Rose, 11, and Remy, 9.

Although Clarkson did not directly address the loss on air, her presence carried added weight as she stepped back into the spotlight.  

While taping the season seven premiere of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the program featured her trademark warmth and humor as well as moments of raw emotion.

During one segment, in which Texas flood survivors recounted their harrowing stories, the singer was moved to tears. 

Later, she bonded with Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, who were promoting their film A Big Bold Beautiful Journey costars, over ‘the highs and lows of parenthood.’ 

In November 2024, the Barbie star, 35, welcomed her first child, a baby boy, with her husband Tom Ackerley. 

She has not to publicly shared his name, birthday or photos. 

Meanwhile Farrell shares his eldest son, James Padraig Farrell, 22, with ex Kim Bordenave and his younger son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, 15, with Alicja Bachleda-Curús 

Clarkson closed the show with a cover of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights.

Those close to the production described the premiere as an especially powerful return.

Music director Jason Halbert, who has worked with Clarkson for years, told USA Today the episode was ’emotional for all of us.’

‘A lot happened for us all in the last year, on personal and career levels,’ he said. ‘You’re going to see some songs reflect things that maybe she wouldn’t talk about verbally.’

NBC confirmed in a press release that The Kelly Clarkson Show, earlier this month, that production would resume on September 8.

It had been on a break since June. 

Upcoming episodes will feature high-profile guests including Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Sylvester Stallone and Matthew McConaughey. 

Amid Blackstock’s secret cancer battle, Clarkson was absent during a number of episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show in February and March. 

Blackstock passed away following a ‘brave and courageous’ three-year battle of melanoma cancer, per the obit shared by Butte Funeral Home.

Blackstock’s obituary notably included the bombshell revelation that he had been in a relationship with Kelly’s past assistant leading up to his death. 

Clarkson and Blackstock had first met in 2006 but didn’t begin dating until six years later in 2012. 

The following year, the pair tied the knot during a ceremony that was held at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee. 

But in June 2020, the talk show host filed for divorce and cited the reason for the split as ‘irreconcilable differences.’ The divorce was finalized two years later. 

‘I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn’t an overnight decision,’ Kelly said on Angie Martinez’s IRL podcast in 2023. 

‘I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen.’ 

She also sued her ex-husband last year after accusing him of making unauthorized business deals on her behalf.

They settled their lawsuits over commissions in May 2024, ending a contentious legal battle that began after their divorce was finalized two years earlier.