Here's The Truth About Kelly Clarkson's Ex

American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson seemed to have finally found the right man when she wed Brandon Blackstock in 2013. The happy couple got engaged after a year of dating, and two children soon followed their happy union, forming a blended family with Brandon’s two kids from a previous marriage. Then, earlier this year, fans were left reeling when Clarkson and Blackstock suddenly announced they were divorcing after seven years of marriage. As Us Weekly reported, Clarkson was the one who filed, citing "irreconcilable differences". The family was quarantining together during the COVID-19 pandemic at their Montana ranch at the time. The divorce came after public declarations of love from both sides, predominantly on Clarkson's popular talk show. Although it seems they ultimately fell out of love, it remains to be seen if these two can part ways amicably. The couple was initially introduced by Clarkson's former manager, Narvel Blackstock, who is also her soon-to-be former husband's father. Their paths first crossed at the 2006 American Country Music Awards, when Blackstock was managing country stars Rascal Flatts. The two reconnected in 2012, and, by that time, Blackstock had been divorced for a year. They were engaged just a short while later. Blackstock followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a talent manager, counting the likes of Blake Shelton, who co-hosts The Voice with Clarkson, among his high-profile clients. Blackstock's father founded Starstruck Entertainment in 1988, and, while Clarkson was married to his son, he managed her, too. What's more, Blackstock counts country legend Reba McEntire as his stepmother, as she was married to his father for more than 20 years, though the two split in 2015. Clarkson and the country icon previously joined forces for their 2008 co-headlining world tour, and the two ladies got much closer once the talk show host married into the family, as McEntire told E! News in 2018. Clarkson was reportedly devastated when the couple got divorced, a source revealed to Closer Weekly. The divorce initially seemed amicable, but ultimately turned acrimonious when the singer-songwriter was awarded primary custody of their two children. As USA Today reported, court documents detailed how the couple would share joint physical and legal custody of daughter River and son Remington, with Clarkson holding primary physical custody in L.A. The papers detailed how, quote, "the level of conflict between the parents has increased" and "the parties have a difficult time co-parenting due to issues of trust between them." They also stated that neither parent is allowed to "speak in a derogatory manner" about the other in front of the kids. Blackstock's request would entitle him to a whopping $5.2 million annually. Complicating matters, Clarkson claimed Starstruck Entertainment defrauded her out of millions of dollars. She asserted, per documents obtained by Us Weekly, that her agreement with the management company was a, quote, "fraudulent and subterfuge device" because her managers weren't licensed to practice in California. Therefore, Clarkson wishes to recoup fees paid to them during the 13 years they acted on her behalf. Her countersuit came after Blackstock's father claimed Clarkson owed $1.4 million in unpaid commissions. #KellyClarkson