How long did Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s marriage last? Relationship timeline revisited amid ex-husband's illness

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock were married for almost seven years before they decided to divorce in 2020. Clarkson has been performing for her Studio Sessions residency in Las Vegas. However, on August 6, 2025, the singer made a sudden announcement on her Instagram that she would be taking a break from her residency.

She explained why she is postponing her residency. Clarkson posted a photo with the caption:

"Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas. While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them. I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding."

Keep reading to learn more about Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's relationship timeline.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's relationship timeline

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock met at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006. The moment she saw Brandon Blackstock, she knew she would "end up with him." Kelly shared with PEOPLE in 2013, she said:

"I've only had three other boyfriends that I dated, and not really seriously... This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, 'I'm gonna end up with him. I know it.'"

She continued:

"Literally, I'm not joking, he walked past us at that time. And he walked by, I was ready to take it all off. I just felt something."

However, Brandon Blackstock was married to Melissa Ashworth at the time.

Six years had passed before Kelly and Brandon Blackstock were reunited again at the Super Bowl. They only started dating in 2012, after Blackstock divorced his wife. Brandon Blackstock's father, Narvel, was her manager at the time. During an interview with SiriusXM in 2017, Kelly said:

"I was so nervous because it wasn't that I didn't want to suck for the millions of people watching, I didn't want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy... I wanted him to be like, 'Damn.' It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!"

She went on to say:

"We didn't even know each other, but he had walked past me once and there was a moment in my crazy head. He thought I hated him, too. When I finally confessed that, 'I really dig you,' he was so shocked because he thought I hated him. I hadn't let on that I liked him. Inside I was like, 'Ask me out!' but outside I was like, 'I love being single and coming home every night alone. It's awesome."

Kelly Clarkson also revealed that they had their first date on the day when Whitney Houston died, and she joked that maybe it was a bad omen for the start of her relationship with Blackstock.

A few months after their reunion, Brandon Blackstock proposed to Kelly Clarkson in December 2012. They got married the following year in October. The couple shares two kids, a daughter named River Rose Blackstock, and a son named Remington Alexander.

In 2019, Kelly also told PEOPLE that it was her husband who pushed her to do her own talk show. She also revealed that no matter how busy they are with their work, they make time for the children and especially "me time".

After almost seven years together, Clarkson decided to file for divorce on June 4, 2020, due to irreconcilable differences. It became increasingly difficult for her and Brandon Blackstock to co-parent, which led to the court granting her primary physical custody of their two children.

A source revealed how Kelly felt during this period. They said:

"As Kelly has said, her first priority in all of this is to take care of the kids and all the hearts that are involved in this divorce... It's been a hard time for everyone, but Kelly's pleased with the court's ruling regarding custody."

Their divorce was finalized two years later in March 2022. A year later, she got candid about her divorce on Angie Martinez's IRL podcast. She said:

"I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn't an overnight decision... I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn't happen."

She added:

"I literally ask my kids every night when we're snuggling up in the bed, 'Are you happy? And if you're not, what could make you happier?' A lot of times they'll be like, 'You know, I'm just really sad. I wish Mommy and Daddy were in the same house.' They're really honest about it. I get it. I'm from a divorced family as well. It sucks."

Kelly Clarkson revealed in an exclusive with PEOPLE that her divorce inspired her album Chemistry. She said:

"I didn't see it other than: This is my outlet. I'm a let-go person; I don't hold grudges. So it was really delving into what happened in my life and why—and what am I going to do about it? I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet. Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it's just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming."

She also sees the new album as a way of "taking my power back".

Years after her divorce, Kelly was on Kylie Kelce's Not Gonna Lie podcast in 2025. She talked about the double standards between working moms and working dads. She said:

"There's a lot that I keep in because ... co-parenting is fun... It's like, 'Oh, he couldn't come because this,' and I'm like, 'Okay, cool.' Do you think I just leave and just sit in the park all day?"

While Kelly and Brandon Blackstock's relationship did not work out. She is still focused on making her kids and family her number one priority.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s relationship had its share of highs and lows, from a whirlwind romance and marriage to a difficult divorce and co-parenting journey. As Clarkson now prioritizes her children amid her ex-husband’s illness, her recent decision to postpone her Las Vegas residency reflects the enduring role family continues to play in her life.

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