Kelly Clarkson is putting her children first after the death of their father and her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
For the entertainer, 43, who is reportedly planning to return to her talk show for the final year of her contract, her children have always ‘come first.’
‘It has been draining, exhausting, emotional [and] devastating,’ a source said to be close to the singer told US Weekly following Blackstock’s death from skin cancer early Thursday morning.
‘A big part of it was making her schedule available for transporting the children to visit Brandon, and all of the emotions that came with this difficult time,’ the insider revealed, referencing the Stronger singer’s efforts to take her children to Montana where their dad had been living.
‘Kelly is a workhorse. Hard work is all she knows,’ the source said of the Grammy winner’s work ethic.
‘She hates disappointing people, truly. The thing that kept her going was knowing how many people depend on her, like her crews and employees.’
Kelly Clarkson is putting her children River Rose, 11, and Remington, nine, first after the death of their father and her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, who lost his life at age 48 following a battle with skin cancer
Clarkson has postponed her August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas so she can focus on daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remington, nine, whom she shared with Blackstock, who died at age 48.
‘Her kids will come first, and she will find a way,’ the source explained. ‘She loves her work, but nothing compares to a situation like this.’
Luckily, Clarkson’s former in-laws have been rallying around the children in this time of need.
‘Thankfully, the Blackstocks have come really close together in this time, so they would be happy to be there for the kids,’ the source said.
The insider pointed out losing Blackstock as a co-parent will take its toll. ‘She has family and friends, but at the end of the day, it’s all on her.’
Clarkson missed 10 show tapings in March for ‘personal reasons’ while celebrity friends such as Brooke Shields and Andy Cohen filled in for her.
Upon her return in which she celebrated the 1,000th episode of the show, she cryptically and tearfully explained, ‘I’ve lost, alone, a lot,’ she added, correcting herself, without any additional details nor clarification.
Although the hitmaker never spoke publicly about her ex’s illness, one fan looked back a recent performance that hinted at something going on behind the bright veneer of Clarkson’s onstage presence.
Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013 and he became her manager in 2017, working out lucrative deals for her to appear on The Voice and to host The Kelly Clarkson Show; Pictured in Las Vegas in April 2013
Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020 and it was a finalized in 2022; Pictured in Santa Monica, CA in January 2020
The singer never mentioned Blackstock’s illness, but missed 10 tapings of her talk show in March. When she returned she told her audience ‘I’ve lost,’ correcting herself, ‘alone, a lot’
‘She had to muster the energy to sing “Piece by Piece’ without crying,” one recent audience member revealed in response to Clarkson’s announcement she was cancelling the August concerts.
‘I think I understand why now. Unlike her father, though, her children’s father was leaving them in his death. She knew it was inevitable, which might explain the tears. Her kids were there with her, adorable as ever.’
‘My heart breaks for them,’ the fan continued, ‘and I 100% support Kelly keeping her priorities straight. I’ll bet if she was guaranteed to lose her career over this decision, she’d make the same call.’
For many, work is a wonderful to push through grief, and the multi-hyphenate has a lot of that ahead of her.
On Wednesday, the entertainer told her fans she was cancelling the rest of her August Studio Session shows in Las Vegas because her ‘children’s father has been ill,’; Pictured in Las Vegas in July
A source told Page Six the Blackstock family, which includes former step-mom Reba McEntire, and siblings (l-r) Shawna, Chassidy, and Shelby, has rallied after Brandon’s death and will be there for the kids
In addition to her daily The Kelly Clarkson Show, she has signed to return as a judge on The Voice.
Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013, and quickly welcomed their two children.
Blackstock became her manager in 2017, and negotiated lucrative deals for his wife to appear on The Voice and to host her own eponymous talk show.
However, they separated in 2020 and after a lot of ugly give and take, finalized their divorce in 2022.
‘The irony is that he’s had a very positive influence on her life; he made these phenomenal deals for her, and she wouldn’t be here without him. But it’s hard to be a manager and a husband,’ an industry insider told Page Six.
‘At the time, she greatly appreciated what he had done for her career,’ they added.
Work will keep Clarkson busy as she deals with her grief. She is expected to return to The Kelly Clarkson show for the remainder of her contract
She has also signed to return to The Voice as a judge
The Grammy winner will also return to her Studio Sessions in November
‘Everything between Kelly and Brandon was stressful and intense and, like, one match away from a powder keg going off when it came to those ongoing negotiations,’ the source told the outlet.
‘And trying to keep the kids stable in the midst of all that is just hugely exhausting and draining.’
Clarkson has revealed she will return for her Studio Session shows in November.
And while she may bid a fond farewell to her talk show at the end of next season, NBC, execs are reportedly hoping she will agree to appear in holiday specials which have been popular with viewers.
