Grief-stricken Kelly Clarkson shifts career focus after ex Brandon Blackstock’s shock cancer death

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Kelly Clarkson prioritizes her kids following the passing of their father and her former spouse, Brandon Blackstock.

The entertainer, aged 43, allegedly preparing for a comeback to her talk show during her last contract year, has consistently prioritized her children above all else.

According to a trusted source near the singer, they shared that the past days have been emotionally taxing, physically draining, and heartbreakingly difficult, following Blackstock’s passing due to skin cancer in the wee hours of Thursday morning.

The source disclosed that a significant aspect involved arranging her schedule for driving the kids to see Brandon, which also included dealing with the emotions that surfaced during this challenging period – a reference to the Stronger singer’s attempts to bring her children to Montana, where their father resided.

The source described Kelly as a diligent worker, indicating that she is accustomed to putting in considerable effort. This refers to the Grammy winner’s strong work ethic.

She deeply dislikes letting others down. What drove her forward was the awareness of how many individuals relied on her – not just her crew members but also her employees.

Clarkson has rescheduled her scheduled Studio Sessions in August in Las Vegas, as she wants to devote more time to her children, River Rose (age 11) and Remington (age 9), following the unfortunate passing of their father, Blackstock, at 48 years old.

According to the source, she prioritizes her children above all else and will make it work, they added. However, there’s no comparison for a situation as precious as this one, given her deep affection for her job.

Luckily, Clarkson’s former in-laws have been rallying around the children in this time of need. 

The source mentioned that luckily, the Blackstocks have found themselves in close proximity recently, which means they are eager to support their children during this time.

The tipster noted that Blackstock’s departure as a co-parent could have a significant impact. ‘Ultimately, she’ll have to shoulder most of the responsibilities herself.’

In March, Clarkson was absent from 10 episodes due to personal matters. Notable individuals like Brooke Shields and Andy Cohen stepped in to host the shows in her place during this period.

Upon her return following the celebration of the 1,000th episode of the show, she emotionally and cryptically expressed, “I’ve endured much loss, all by myself.” However, she did not provide further information or clarification on this statement.

Despite the pop star not openly discussing her former partner’s health issues, a keen observer noticed subtle indications in a recent performance suggesting that there might have been personal struggles beneath Clarkson’s lively stage persona.

One spectator disclosed that they learned, following Clarkson’s cancellation of her August concerts, that she needed to gather her strength to perform “Piece by Piece” without shedding tears.

Now I see why things are this way. Unlike her father, their father passed away and left them behind. She knew it was bound to happen, which could be why she’s crying. Her kids were there with her, as cute as can be.

The supporter empathized deeply with them and fully endorsed Kelly maintaining her focus. I’m confident that given a choice between her career and this decision, she would still make the same choice.

Many people find solace in work during periods of grief, and the versatile individual has quite a few challenging tasks coming up.

Besides hosting her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, she’s also agreed to come back as a judge on The Voice.

Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013, and quickly welcomed their two children.

In 2017, I lucked out when my idol, Blake Blackstock, agreed to manage me. He worked wonders in securing some fantastic opportunities that transformed my career. He masterfully negotiated deals for me to join The Voice and even launched my own talk show, bearing my name! It’s been a dream come true working with him!

In 2020, they chose to part ways, and after a period filled with difficult negotiations, their divorce was officially finalized in 2022.

‘The irony lies in the fact that he has had a tremendously beneficial impact on her life – arranging remarkable deals for her and being instrumental in her existence. However, it proves challenging to balance the roles of a manager and a husband.’ (An industry insider reportedly told Page Six.)

‘At the time, she greatly appreciated what he had done for her career,’ they added.

The relationship between Kelly and Brandon was always tense and high-pressure, and their ongoing discussions were so explosive that it seemed only a single spark would set them off like a time bomb, according to the source speaking to the outlet.

Keeping the children balanced amidst all the chaos can be incredibly tiring and depleting.

Clarkson has revealed she will return for her Studio Session shows in November.

As her talk show is set to conclude at the end of the upcoming season, NBC executives are said to be eagerly awaiting her agreement for appearances in festive specials, which have consistently delighted viewers.

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2025-08-09 22:05