Kelly Clarkson has spent the year helping her two young children navigate the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, after a battle with skin cancer.
“It’s been an incredibly emotional year for Kelly and the kids,” a source exclusively told Page Six of the singer and her daughter, River, 12, and son, Remington “Remy,” 10. “Losing a parent at such a young age is something no child should ever have to go through. Kelly has done everything she can to be there for River and Remy as they’ve navigated that loss.”
The insider added, “Her focus has been making sure they feel loved, supported and as stable as possible while giving them the space to grieve in their own way.”
Clarkson, 44, and Blackstock divorced in 2022 after a highly publicized split that included years of legal battles over custody, spousal support and their Montana ranch.
The “Stronger” singer filed for divorce from Blackstock in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage.
The exes were entangled in a lengthy legal battle surrounding spousal support, custody of their two children and Clarkson’s Montana ranch.
Clarkson won primary custody of their children in November 2020, and the former couple eventually settled their divorce in March 2022. Blackstock was ordered to leave the ranch by June 2022.
The former talent manager died on Aug, 7, 2025, at age 48 from melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a rep for the family told Page Six in a statement at the time. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years.”
“He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” the statement continued. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
While the past year has been filled with grief, the source said Clarkson is beginning to embrace a new chapter.
“This past year has given Kelly a different perspective. She still has moments that are incredibly hard, but she’s in a much better place than she was during the divorce years,” the insider said.
“She’s excited to be making music again, she’s having fun with the residency, and returning to ‘The Voice’ feels like the right fit because it allows her to keep doing what she loves while also being the kind of mom she wants to be.”
The Grammy winner announced in February that the current season of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” would be its last after seven seasons, explaining that stepping away from the daily talk show schedule would allow her to prioritize her children.
“Stepping away from her daytime show wasn’t an easy decision because she genuinely loved it, but it gave her the time and flexibility she needed to put her family first,” the insider said.
When announcing the end of her daytime show, Clarkson shared a statement on Instagram, and reflected on her time hosting the show and the team behind it.
“I have been extremely fortunate to work with such an outstanding group of people at ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ both in Los Angeles and New York,” the singer wrote.
“Looking back, she knows it was the right decision. Being more present for her kids during such a difficult chapter has meant everything to her.”
“There have been so many amazing moments and shows over these seven seasons. I am forever grateful and honored to have worked alongside the greatest band and crew you could hope for, all the talent and inspiring people who have shared their time and lives with us, all the fans who have supported our show and to NBC for always being such a supportive and incredible partner.”
The show will wrap up and air its final episodes this fall and her summer Las Vegas residency runs through Aug. 15.
Clarkson also released her new single, “I’d Be Lyin’,” on July 17.
