Even through heartbreak, Kelly Clarkson is doing what strong mamas do best by putting her kids first.
Kelly Clarkson may be a powerhouse on stage, but behind closed doors, she is just a mom doing everything she can to hold her little world together. Five months after the passing of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, Clarkson has opened up about how her kids, River and Remington, are coping with the heartbreaking loss of their dad.
During a fan Q and A on her YouTube channel, the “Stronger” singer got candid when asked about something that brings her joy each day. Without hesitation, Clarkson gave the most mom-style answer you could expect from a woman who has been through the wringer lately, and that answer was snuggles.
“My kids, they are 9 and 11. Kind of that special little fun stage where they can wipe their own behinds, but they are still small enough to love cuddling and love snuggles,” she shared with a little humor. But her words carried a lot more weight than just bedtime sweetness. “There has been a lot for our family recently, and so I have allowed my kids to sleep with me quite a bit,” she added. “It is my two dogs, my two kids and me. It is a lot. But it has been really special because the conversations you have during that time are pretty cute. That is probably my favorite time of day.”
Clarkson is not just keeping it together because she is creating a safe space for her kids to grieve, to process, and to feel loved in the aftermath of a life-altering tragedy. Brandon Blackstock, who passed away at age 48 after a private three-year battle with melanoma, left behind four children which include two with Clarkson and two from a previous marriage. The loss has been especially painful for River and Remy, who were just starting to find their footing in the world when everything changed.
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An insider close to the family recently told People that Clarkson has been devastated for her children. “Kelly is obviously heartbroken for her kids. Losing their dad is incredibly painful and confusing,” they said. “But she is also very grounded. She is not someone who falls apart. She looks at life realistically and does everything she can to make things as steady and loving as possible for her kids.”
If there is one thing Clarkson has always done well, it is being real. The divorce from Blackstock in 2020 was public, messy, and emotional. But through it all, she never let bitterness cloud her children’s relationship with their father. “She always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad. She never spoke poorly about Brandon to the kids,” a separate source told People.
That kind of strength, the kind that pushes through heartbreak, courtrooms, and parenting in the spotlight, is exactly why fans love Clarkson. She is a chart-topping, Grammy-winning artist, but more importantly, she is a mama who is fiercely present for her babies.
Even now, when her own heart is likely still healing from years of emotional battles and the finality of loss, she is choosing to pour into River and Remy with bedtime snuggles, soft conversations, and a whole lot of love. No awards show or record deal can compare to that kind of daily dedication.
It is clear Kelly Clarkson is doing what any badass country-hearted mama would do, holding it all down with honesty, compassion, and the kind of quiet strength that makes you want to stand up and cheer.
