Whether baring it all through her latest album, Chemistry, or opening up during tell-all interviews (like her newest one with People), Kelly Clarkson hasn’t been shy about sharing all that went into her divorce from Brandon Blackstock in 2020 — and we just got new details about the nature of their former relationship.
According to court documents obtained by The New York Post, Clarkson claimed that Blackstock, who also worked as her talent manager at the time, once told her she wasn’t “sexy” enough to be a coach on The Voice. The singer alleged that although she voiced her interest in the singing competition show on multiple occasions, her then-husband told her that network executives were likely “looking for more a sex symbol type.”
While Clarkson eventually went on to join the show for nine seasons starting in 2018, she explained during the lawsuit proceedings last year — where Blackstock was ordered to pay the singer $2.6 million for unlawfully procuring deals that should have been handled by her talent agents — that “a wife doesn’t forget a time she gets told she’s not a sex symbol.”
News of the discussion came just hours before the former Voice coach graced the cover of People to talk about creating Chemistry and navigating the difficult divorce process.
“I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet,” Clarkson said of writing her album. “Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it’s just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming.”
She added that releasing the album “[was] like, ‘I’m taking my power back.’ That sounds very therapy, but that’s because I love therapy, and I think it’s important to have those tools to navigate your life and relationships.”