Kelly Clarkson 'working herself ragged' as ex Brandon Blackstock splurges on millions he got in divorce
FORT WORTH, TEXAS: Kelly Clarkson might be the queen of empowering anthems, but behind her famous smile lies a story of struggles, sacrifices, and resilience.
After her messy 2020 divorce from Brandon Blackstock, the 'Since U Been Gone' hitmaker has been juggling the demands of her talk show, single parenthood, and rebuilding her life—all while her ex seems to be living the high life in Montana.
Brandon Blackstock’s luxe life in Montana
According to insiders, life post-divorce has been anything but a walk in the park for Kelly Clarkson, 42. Meanwhile, her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, 48, seems to be thriving in his Montana haven. As part of their divorce settlement, Blackstock scored a $1.8 million home in Butte and retains access to Clarkson’s nearby ranch.
The former talent agent also walked away with a five-percent share of the $17.75 million property. On top of that, Clarkson was required to pay a hefty $1.3 million and monthly child support of $45,000 for their two kids, River, 10, and Remington, 8.
Although the monthly $115,000 spousal support she once shelled out to Blackstock ended in January 2024, the financial sting still lingers. “Kelly is wealthy, but it galled her to have to pay millions for what she feels is no good reason,” a source revealed to Radar Online. “She thinks he made enough money off her when they were married!” they added.
The insider continued, “Brandon walked away with a tidy fortune that's keeping him in luxury. And he's enjoying the big payoff in Montana, where he’s raking it in with his new rodeo show—with Kelly’s ex-assistant Brittney Jones.”
Kelly Clarkson’s grueling workload
While Brandon Blackstock enjoys the spoils of Montana life, Kelly Clarkson is hard at work in New York City as she pours her energy into her talk show and tries to move on from the heartbreak. “Meanwhile, Kelly’s running herself ragged in New York doing her show and struggling to meet a new partner. It doesn’t seem fair, at least not to her friends!” a source shared.
Clarkson’s friends are reportedly unimpressed with Blackstock’s post-divorce ventures, particularly his rodeo show. “Her friends roll their eyes and say he’s taking other people for a ride now, selling tickets to his rodeo show—which are going like hotcakes—and charging ridiculous prices for VIP tables,” the insider said.
Despite her success, Clarkson hasn’t found it easy to re-enter the dating world. “I get so nervous,” she admitted before adding, “It’s not that I don’t think I’m a prize, I just find it awkward. Maybe I just haven’t done it enough!” as reported by Radar Online.
A source close to Clarkson added, “Kelly’s more vulnerable than she would like to admit, and it doesn’t help that she’s working herself to the bone while Brandon’s having a blast and showing off in Montana. Montana was once her sanctuary. Now he’s ruined it for her.”
Kelly Clarkson is reclaiming the narrative
Kelly Clarkson, however, has found ways to channel her struggles into strength. Her talk show has become not only a platform for connecting with fans but also a subtle tool for reclaiming her narrative.
“Kelly has used her successful talk show to snub those who wronged her in the past,” an insider revealed.
Reflecting on the tough early days of her career, Clarkson shared on her show in 2021, “People were like really mean to us because we were from a talent show. Like everyone was so rude to us, like on the red carpet, at the show. It was so bad. It was a horrible experience.”
The source elaborated, “Even actors sneered at Kelly and other American Idol winners because Idol was drawing a bigger audience than their scripted TV shows, and they held it against her. They saw Kelly as a pre-manufactured star who didn’t pay her dues. Kelly is above naming names, but when producers mention a star who wants to be on her show and she remembers they wouldn’t give her the time of day when she was starting out, she just says, 'nah'.”
Despite the setbacks, Kelly Clarkson is determined to take control of her life both personally and professionally. She’s dropped 60 pounds through a combination of weight loss medication, a protein-based diet, and walking.
