Kelly Clarkson is calling it quits on her marriage.
According to multiple reports, the American Idol winner has filed for divorce from her husband Brandon Blackstock, citing irreconcilable differences. One detail, however, has left some fans confused – the divorce docs listed the date of separation as TBD (to be determined).
Entertainment Tonight reports that Kelly filed the documents on June 4, which also asked for joint legal and physical custody of River and Remington, as well as terminating the ability to award spousal support to Brandon. She’s also asking for her name to be legally changed back to Clarkson after taking the Blackstone last name after marriage.
News of their split comes shortly after the now ex-couple listed their homes for sale. Her gated waterfront estate in Hendersonville, Tennessee, was put up for sale in December 2019 at $7,499,000, per Redfin. And her 9,839-square-foot $9,995,000 mansion in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles was listed for sale in May, per Variety.
Kelly and Brandon began dating in 2012, and tied the knot in October 2013. They share two children together – 5-year-old daughter River and 4-year-old son Remington. Brandon is also dad to two children from a previous relationship.
Their split comes as a shock to many. The family has been quarantining in their family ranch in Montana. Brandon, along with their two kids and Brandon’s son Seth, had just cooked up a video to wish Kelly a “Happy Birthday” in April. Last month, Kelly also praised Brandon about how he’s been her “partner in crime” throughout quarantine.
“My husband is now a lighting technician and audio visual technician. He’s a director, and he’s also playing cowboy on our ranch. He’s got his hands full. We both definitely have our hands full,” she told ET, referring to continuing to shoot episodes of their talk show from home. “Brandon and I are hustling, definitely, around the ranch, trying to make it happen. And I 100 percent, none of this would be happening without my partner in crime.”
Brandon is the son of Kelly’s former manager, Narvel Blackstone. He’s since taken on the role as manager and is also Executive Producer of Kelly’s daytime talk show. However, mixing their personal and professional relationship may have contributed to their decision to split.
“Kelly and Brandon work together non-stop and that became a contention in their relationship,” a source tells ET. “Brandon is the EP of her show as well as her manager. Also, Kelly has always brought up wanting more children, which Brandon doesn’t.”
But, apparently, the two have been keeping whatever marriage woes they had on the DL. Another source told E! News that Kelly and Brandon’s friends found news of their split “quite shocking.”
“It came out of nowhere,” the source told the outlet. “It’s all so sad for the kids. They were always such a loving family. It never seemed like they had any issues.”
