Kelly Clarkson presses ex-husband Brandon Blackstock to pay $5M for appeal in 'The Voice' commission dispute
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Kelly Clarkson is taking her legal battle with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock to the next level just months after he was ordered to pay her $2.6 million.
The singer has asked her ex-husband to pay $5.2 million as a bond if he wishes to proceed with his appeal regarding the seven-figure judgment over commissions with 'The Voice', as per court documents obtained by Radar Online.
Inside Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's legal dispute
Clarkson and Blackstock who tied the knot in 2013 announced their split in 2020.
Blackstock served as his ex-wife's manager and collected commission from her for 13 years. He worked for the Starstruck Management Group owned by his father Narvel.
In 2007, the singer signed with the Nashville-based company, and according to their agreement, she was required to pay 15% of her gross earnings.
Following their split, Clarkson was sued by the management company over $1.4 million reportedly owed in commissions.
Starstruck claimed the entertainer stopped paying commissions, including amounts related to 'The Voice' and 'The Kelly Clarkson Show.'
Following the legal filing, the 'Blessed' singer filed a petition with the California Labor Commission which led the management company to pause until the Labor Commissioner made a decision.
Kelly Clarkson accused Brandon Blackstock of defrauding her by overcharging her
In the petition, Clarkson accused Blackstock of defrauding her by overcharging her, according to Radar Online.
The songwriter alleged that her estranged husband never had a talent agent license and had asked her to pay back commissions.
Speaking about Clarkson's petition, Starstruck’s powerhouse attorney Bryan Freedman previously said, "The labor petition conveniently ignores the fact that Kelly had her own licensed talent agency CAA at all times."
"While Starstruck Management Group provided talent management services on her behalf, it did so at all times that CAA was her agency of record," he said at the time.
The California Labor Commission determined her ex-husband who did not have a talent agent license should not have booked gigs and ruled the decision in favor of Clarkson in November 2023.
He was then ordered to pay Clarkson $2.6 million in commissions which included $93.30 for the Billboard Music Awards, $450k for a Wayfair endorsement contract, $208k for a Norwegian Cruise Line deal, and $1.9 million for 'The Voice.'
Blackstock and the management company Starstuck filed an appeal of the commission's decision.
