Inside Kelly Clarkson’s courtroom conflict with ex Brandon Blackstock & feud along with his iconic nation music household forward of CMAs

By Jason Last updated Nov 6, 2022

KELLY Clarkson will take to the stage at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday, singing at the bash for the first time since her divorce from Brandon Blackstock was finalized.

Ahead of the mom-of-two’s performance, take a look inside her lengthy court war with her talent manager ex.

Kelly Clarkson endured a lengthy court battleCredit: The Kelly Clarkson Show

She and Brandon Blackstock finalized their divorce in March 2022Credit: Getty

Kelly, 40, first with her ex-husband, 45, backstage at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2006.

The couple got engaged in December 2012 and married a year later at a luxury estate in Tennessee.

However, Kelly filed for divorce in June 2020 citing “irreconcilable differences”, while she told viewers of her talk show that she “didn’t see” the split coming.

However, she vowed to protect their two children, daughter River, eight, and son Remington, six, amid the divorce.

BROKEN HOME

Kelly and Brandon’s bitter divorce battle lasted nearly two years as they untangled their seven years of marriage, parenthood, and pricey property.

In March 2022, LA Superior Court Judge Scott Gordon signed off on the terms of the split.

Kelly was granted primary custody of River and Remington.

Brandon meanwhile is also dad to older kids Seth and Savannah from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth.

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Kelly won primary custody of their young children Remington and RiverCredit: Getty

She also got to keep their sprawling Vintage Valley Ranch in Montana, which is worth a whopping $10.4m.

After allegedly arguing in court that he couldn’t afford to move out and buy his own place, Brandon, who works as a talent manager, has since found new digs in the state.

He was granted custody of the kids one weekend a month.

Kelly sold her former family home in Los Angeles and has since bought her own new place where she lives with her children while hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Kelly got to keep her $10.4m Montana ranchCredit: YouTube/The Kelly Clarkson Show

CASH SPLASH

Kelly, who has racked up a whopping net worth of around $45m with her chart topping hits and TV career, had signed a prenup with her ex.

But he tried to challenge the pre-marital agreement and even demanded $5.2ma year in spousal support from the star.

A court later ruled Kelly would pay $45,601 a month in child support until River and Remington turn 18, graduate high school, or otherwise become self-supporting.

She was also ordered to pay her ex spousal support of $115,000 monthly until January 2024, in addition to a one-time, tax-free fee of $1,326,161.

After the split was settled, Kelly seemingly made a nod to her ex as she ironically sang I will Always Love You at the ACM Awards.

Kelly was ordered to pay her ex $115ka month in spousal support, $45ka month in child support, and a one-time lump sum of $1.3mCredit: Getty Images-Getty

OLIVE BRANCH?

Now the proceedings are over, the songstress has since shared some kind words about her former husband.

In a chat with Khloe Kardashian on The Kelly Clarkson Show last month, she reflected on her new life post divorce.

“It’s hard. I think it’s the most ridiculous thing sometimes when something doesn’t work out and you’re in a relationship and you’re so deeply in love, and people are like ‘Oh yeah, why can’t you [move on],”

She explained: “I’m like, I think I might always love that person, I don’t know if it goes away.”

Kelly said she may ‘always love’ her ex despite their nasty splitCredit: Getty

RAGING ON

Although tensions between her and Brandon appear to have cooled off, Kelly is now facing another lengthy legal battle.

This time, it is Brandon’s father-in-law Narvel, 66, who will be seeing in court.

Narvel was famously married to country music legend Reba McEntire from 1989 until 2015, and he managed his ex-wife’s music career along with a host of other big names.

Narvel Blackstock’s business, Starstruck Management Group, filed a lawsuit in September 2020, claiming that Kelly owes millions of dollars in unpaid commissions.

The American Idol icon countersued two months later, accusing them of violating the California Labor Code by “procuring, offering, promising, or attempting to procure employment or engagements.”

She also claimed that both Brandon and Narvel acted as unlicensed talent agents, which they have denied.

Kelly further insisted that any and all agreements – including their reported verbal contract in which she agreed to pay them 15 percent commission on her gross earnings – be “declared void and unenforceable.”

The latest court filed in LA and seen by The Sun show the families are still at war, with the next documents hearing in the case not scheduled until March next year.