Kelly Clarkson Reveals the Music Icons Behind The Highs and Lows of Her Marriage to Brandon Blackstock originally appeared on Parade.
Kelly Clarkson’s eight-year relationship with Brandon Blackstock was marked by heartfelt memories and defining chapters in her life. In a twist of fate, two legendary music icons became indirectly linked to some of the couple’s most significant moments. Now, as Clarkson grieves Blackstock’s passing from cancer at age 48 on August 7, those memories carry even deeper meaning.
PEOPLE Magazine revealed that two of Clarkson’s music idols, Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton, played special roles in her love story with Blackstock. Both legendary artists are deeply intertwined with two of Clarkson’s most meaningful and emotional relationship moments.
The first moment is tied to Whitney Houston and the day of the couple’s first date. “This is the funniest/worst thing ever. One of my superhero idols is Whitney Houston,” Clarkson admitted.
“The day she died was our first date,” Clarkson revealed. “I was like, ‘This is a bad omen.'”
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What was thought to be a bad sign at the time appeared not to affect the two lovebirds, who announced their engagement in December 2012. “Brandon’s the one,” shares Clarkson. “I’ve never been so happy.”
However, their marriage wouldn’t. Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, and her union with Blackstock was legally dissolved two years later.
In an ironic twist of fate, Clarkson learned her divorce was final moments before she was set to take the stage at the 57th ACM Awards in March 2022. She was set to honor Dolly Parton with a performance of “I Will Always Love You.”
“I’m looking at Dolly Parton and I’m like, I had just gotten my text of like, ‘Hey, your divorce is final, like you’ve both signed,'” Clarkson admitted to Andy Cohen at a Sirius XM Town Hall, via PEOPLE. “Like, right before getting on a stage to sing ‘I Will Always Love You.'”
She added, “I was like, ‘Screw you, universe.’ That’s the timing?”
“What I do think, though, and I’m thankful for, is that it was such a huge moment for me personally going on that nobody knew about that it kind of distracted me from the moment,” she continued. “So whenever I got through it and I got off stage and I was like, ‘That didn’t suck.’ It wasn’t Whitney Houston or Dolly, but it didn’t suck.”
On Aug. 7, a rep for the family confirmed that Blackstock died from cancer just one day after Clarkson postponed the remainder of her Las Vegas residency to focus on her children with her ex, River and Remy.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the statement said. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
Kelly Clarkson Reveals the Music Icons Behind The Highs and Lows of Her Marriage to Brandon Blackstock first appeared on Parade on Aug 8, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
