Kelly Clarkson ‘collapsing under weight’ of personal and career stress after Brandon Blackstock divorce

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Kelly Clarkson may be all smiles on screen, but insiders say the beloved singer and talk show host is under a lot of stress, and it’s beginning to show.

"Kelly's carrying a lot on her shoulders both in her personal and professional life and people worry that she's collapsing under the weight of it all," an insider revealed to RadarOnline.

Kelly Clarkson battles burnout amid single motherhood

Juggling her successful (but currently shaky) talk show and raising two young children as a single mother — daughter River, 10, and son Remy, 8 — Kelly Clarkson has been stretched thin since her divorce from Brandon Blackstock.

Reportedly, nearly two years after Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock, the divorce was finalized in March 2022.

Between 2023 and 2025, Clarkson openly reflected on the emotional aftermath of her divorce from Blackstock.

She revealed she sang 'I Will Always Love You' at the ACM Awards on the same day her divorce was finalized.

The emotional toll of navigating life after the divorce, sources say, is becoming more visible.

Clarkson recently took a two-week break from 'The Kelly Clarkson Show'.

Upon her return, she opened up to her live audience, admitting she’d experienced “a lot of ups and downs personally".

“She has career and personal pressures that are leaving her feeling shattered and like a boat marooned in a storm," the source shared, painting a picture of a woman grappling with too many roles all at once.

"Kelly took time off to try to get her head straight, but the things that were causing her pain and anxiety haven't gone away. She's really stressed out and people close to her fear she could be heading for a serious breakdown," they added.

Kelly Clarkson at crossroads as talk show ratings drop

Professionally, Kelly Clarkson is weathering a storm of uncertainty.

Her once high-flying daytime show has seen a sharp drop in ratings, plummeting to 1.2 million viewers in its sixth season, a troubling trend that has set off alarm bells behind the scenes.

"Kelly has been renewed for another season, but she's worried that if she doesn't stem the tide, she's going to get canceled," the insider said.

On the other hand, her talk show rival Drew Barrymore has moved ahead with 1.5 million viewers for 'The Drew Barrymore Show'.

With viewership waning, Clarkson is reportedly questioning her entire career pivot.

Clarkson’s transition from chart-topping pop star to daytime host was once seen as a natural evolution, but now, even she is beginning to question the move.

"Now, Kelly is second-guessing herself, wondering if launching a talk show may have been a mistake all along," the source explained.

"She already had a huge career as a singer, but she pretty much gave that up to concentrate on the show," the source added, suggesting that her decision may have come at too high a cost.