How Kelly Clarkson feels about ending her ex-husband’s spousal support

Kelly Clarkson begins 2024 by closing an expensive chapter of her life as she pays her final spousal support to her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

“Kelly is relieved that her partner support for Brandon has come to an end,” a source said exclusively We weekly. “She has been ready for a while and is so happy that her payments to Brandon will be complete. It’s so nice to know that this chapter of her life can end with the new year.”

The insider adds: “Kelly sees this as a fresh start and she couldn’t be happier with a clean slate in 2024.”

After Clarkson, 41, filed for divorce from Blackstock, 47, in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage, the former couple was embroiled in a lengthy legal battle over spousal support, custody of their children and Clarkson’s ranch in Montana . The American Idol winner and Blackstock eventually settled their divorce in March 2022.

Per court documents obtained by Us Clarkson agreed at the time to pay $115,000 monthly in Blackstock spousal support through January 2024 and was asked to pay a one-time, tax-free reimbursement of $1,326,161.

In the divorce settlement, Clarkson was awarded primary custody of the pair’s children, River, 9, and Remington, 7. She also agreed to pay $45,601 per month in child support until their children “reached the age of eighteen years.” , had completed high school or become self-sufficient.

Blackstock also owes Clarkson money, a California labor commissioner ruled last month. Clarkson has sued Blackstock for collecting fees for deals he made for her, but he is not a licensed talent agent. Blackstock was ordered to reimburse Clarkson $2,641,374 for overstepping his managerial role and improperly obtaining deals that should have been handled by her talent agent. His legal team has appealed the ruling.

Ahead of season 5 of her The Kelly Clarkson Showthe “Stronger” singer moved to New York City with River and Remington.

Related: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s relationship timeline

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s down-to-earth and somewhat private romance captivated fans for years prior to their 2020 split, after the pair took their professional relationship to the next level in the mid-2000s. The American Idol alum and the manager started dating in 2011 and things moved pretty quickly from there. The couple announced their engagement in […]

“What’s cool about Season 5 for me is that I’m in such a great place, not just with my kids, but with me personally and with the show,” she shared USA today in October 2023. “I feel like a burden has been lifted. That step was desperately needed.”

Clarkson admitted that she is “most excited” about her new location at 30 Rockefeller Center because “on a selfish level” she can finally “show up to work smiling and actually mean it.”

“That’s a beautiful gift that you don’t realize until you’re gone,” she said.

While the first Vote coach is making strides in her personal life, she shared that she’s in no rush to dip her toe back into the dating pool just yet.

“I’m still in the phase where I’m really enjoying myself, so I’m not there,” Clarkson said on her show in December 2023, noting that it’s hard to move on when you think “you could be forever spend with this person.”

Reporting by Sarah Jones