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Kelly Clarkson Says Divorce Wasn’t An ‘Overnight Decision’

Kelly Clarkson opened up about her divorce from Brandon Blackstock on a recent podcast. The divorce, which was filed in 2020, was settled a year ago. The couple has two…

Kelly Clarkson Says Divorce Wasn't An 'Overnight Decision'
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Kelly Clarkson opened up about her divorce from Brandon Blackstock on a recent podcast. The divorce, which was filed in 2020, was settled a year ago. The couple has two children, River Rose, 8, and Remington Alexander, 6.

Kelly said in the podcast, "It rips you apart whenever you fall in love with someone, and it doesn't work." She elaborated, "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."

Clarkson added, "Anyone that's been divorced [knows]. That was years in trying to make — not make it work, 'cause I never wanted to be part of something to 'make it work.' 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 said, "I ask my kids every night when we're snuggling, and I put them to bed, 'Are you happy? And if you're not, what could make you happier?' Especially the past two years. It kills me, [but] I want them to be honest, so I don't ever say, 'Oh, God, don't tell me that,' but a lot of times it would be like, 'I'm just really sad. I wish Mommy and Daddy were in the same house.' They're really honest about it. I'm raising that kind of individual."

And Clarkson understands where her kids are coming from, "I just sit there, and I'm like, 'I get it. I'm from a divorced family as well. I get it. That sucks. But we're going to work it out. And you are so loved by both of us.' I think [it's important to be] communicating with them and... not treating them like an adult, because they're not, but not treating them like a child. They're not small feelings. Those are huge feelings, and those are huge emotions."

Kelly Clarkson celebrates her 40th birthday on Sunday (4/24), and while she says it's going to be "low-key" this year noting to E!, "I know it's my big 4-0, but I've had a crazy two years, so I just wanted a chill birthday." She is planning a dinner with her band and hiking with friends, but we want to make a big deal about it and celebrate.

Kelly is the perfect combination of a fantastic singer, an honest songwriter, and an infectious and downright fun personality.

She not only hosts her own daily talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, but she is also a regular on NBC's The Voice, and she just recently started co-hosting another NBC show called American Song Contest with Snoop Dogg.

We are covering her ten best radio singles for this special birthday list, and no doubt it was hard to choose.

10. "Piece by Piece" (2017)

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9. "A Moment Like This" (2002)

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8. "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009)

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7. "Heartbeat Song" (2015)

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6. "Mr. Know It All" (2011)

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5. "Breakaway" (2004)

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4. "Miss Independent" (2003)

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3. "Since U Been Gone" (2004)

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2. "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" (2012)

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1. " Because of You" (2005)

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Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.