It’s been a big week for singer and The Voice star Kelly Clarkson, though not as much from a career standpoint. The longtime performer has recently been going to court over her bifurcated divorce to music manager Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson just so happened to be filming NBC’s reality competition series when news about her recent legal victory broke. Of course, celebrating commenced with the other coaches.
Basically, in court Brandon Blackstock had contested the prenuptial agreement that he had signed as part of their marriage arrangement back in 2013. Cut to 2021 and he and Clarkson are in the process of a bifurcated divorce, meaning their marriage is over, but technically certain issues still have to be worked out. (This is the same type of divorce Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are engaged in.) As part of that, Brandon Blackstock wanted to maintain the Montana Ranch that he is currently living on and split their assets equally, though most of the assets are hers.
A couple of days ago, a judge confirmed that Brandon Blackstock will be responsible for the ranch and its finances on his own. The prenup that Blackstock signed ahead of his marriage to Clarkson will stand, which means The Voice coach had a big reason to celebrate. And given she was actually on the set of her hit series at the time, she celebrated with newcomer judge Ariana Grande and others on set.
Per a report over at TMZ, Kelly Clarkson received an email stating the judge had agreed with her legal team’s argument that a contract should be binding when signed. After learning the prenup would be upheld, she apparently “let out a scream.” This caught the attention of others on set, including the other coaches, to join her in celebration of her legal victory.
In a secondary connection to her The Voice family, apparently for more than a decade, Brandon Blackstock had been the manager of Blake Shelton, who is also a longtime coach on the reality series. If you can remember correctly, the divorcing couple had met at an awards show back in 2006, while his father just so happened to be her manager. But it was Blake Shelton who once said in an interview he actually told Blackstock to make the move and ultimately ask for his Voice co-star's hand.
I told Brandon, man, you need to grow up and figure out that you need to marry this girl. I am going on the record saying, I will do the music at the wedding or whatever you want to do, I'll be that guy. I will play for four hours if I have to, cause you need to get your head out of your ass and ask that girl to marry you.
In the time since, however, Blackstock had allegedly cut back on music business work, with US Weekly reporting this had made it easier for the business relationship to fade out. Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton have allegedly remained good friends during this time, as well. Ultimately, Clarkson will be paying $45,000 in child support a month and will be co-parenting with her ex, but as the divorce continues moving forward, she certainly has reason to celebrate. Now, I just wonder if any of this will trickle into the actual competition show or stay behind the scenes entirely.
Time will tell. The Voice returns to NBC on September 20. To find out when more of your favorites will be back, take a look at our fall TV premiere schedule.
