Kelly Clarkson Reveals Her Kids Are Struggling With Her Messy Divorce – ‘It Kills Me’

It’s been one year since Kelly Clarkson’s divorce from Brandon Blackstock was finalized after seven years of marriage, but their two young children are still struggling to come to terms with it. During a new interview, Clarkson opened up about how her children River, 8, and Remi, 6, are still trying to deal with her split from their father.

‘It Kills Me’

“I literally ask my kids every night when we’re snuggling, ‘Are you happy?’ And if you’re not, what could make you happier?” Clarkson said while appearing on the “Angie Martinez’s IRL Podcast.” 

“Sometimes they’ll say — especially the past two years, a lot of it, and it kills me and 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, ‘You know, I’m just really sad. I wish mommy and daddy were in the same house,'” she continued. “And they’re really honest about it. And I’m raising that kind of individual.”

As someone who grew up with divorced parents, Clarkson understands what her own children are going through. 

“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,'” she said. “I think communicating with them and not treating them — 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.”

Related: Reba McEntire Weighs In On Kelly Clarkson’s Messy Divorce From Her Stepson

Clarkson Reveals What Led To Her Divorce

In this same interview, Clarkson revealed what led to her deciding that she needed to divorce Blackstock. After wavering for “years” on whether this marriage was right for her, Clarkson read an except of the book “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle in which the author questioned if she would want her daughter to be in a marriage like her own someday.

“It just changed the perspective on that,” Clarkson said. “I am a way better parent when I take care of myself — the oxygen mask mentality, right? And you do have to take care of yourself in order for that to trickle down.”

She went on to acknowledge that Blackstock was her first love. 

“My kids ask me all the time, ‘So you don’t love him anymore?’ I’m like, ‘No, I don’t know if that goes away,'” she said.

Though Clarkson and Blackstock split in 2020, it wasn’t until March of 2022 that they were able to finalize their messy divorce, according to Fox News. 

Related: Kelly Clarkson’s Nasty Divorce Battle Escalates – She’s Ready To Fight

Clarkson Will ‘Never’ Remarry

As for what her future would look like, Clarkson said that while she would “love to fall in love,” she’s adamant that she’ll “never” remarry.

“I didn’t have the most positive experience with step-situations and re-marrying and I didn’t have the most positive situation growing up,” she explained. “I will not do that to my children. I would love to fall in love, but I don’t want another dude in my house with my children.”

Divorce is never a fun thing, particularly when there are children involved. In the end, we hope and pray that Clarkson and Blackstock are able to co-parent successfully enough to help their two children through this difficult time.