Kelly Clarkson is sharing her thoughts on marriage.
The “Dark Side” vocalist disclosed to People in a recent interview that she never desired to wed Brandon Blackstock initially, and that she’s not keen on getting married again after their divorce.
“I never desired to get married the first time,” she stated. “(Brandon) had children, a religious background, and it was significant, I think, for him,” she expressed.
“But I’ve never been that person. Because I’ve been through a couple divorces in my family, I simply don’t like to put any emphasis on it,” the “Stronger” vocalist continued. “It can occur; it doesn’t have to occur. For my kids, I definitely would never even consider it until they’re out of my house.”
Clarkson and Blackstock have their two young kids, River and Remington, together.
In 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock, and in 2022, they finalized their divorce.
Court documents obtained by TODAY in March 2022 stated that Clarkson would have to pay her ex a one-time sum of $1,326,161, as well as monthly payments of $115,000 in spousal support until Jan. 31, 2024, and $45,601 monthly in child support for their kids.
However, in November 2023, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement ruled that Blackstock has to reimburse Clarkson with $2,641,374 for fees he extracted from her work projects when he was Clarkson’s manager.
Blackstock is currently attempting to challenge that decision.
“I’ve always known that love is challenging. For me, love has always come with this elephant in the room of sadness,” she informed People. “I’ve known love is not everlasting. I don’t mean that to sound gloomy, but I think we put a lot of pressure on that word.
“Sometimes love is looking at someone and going, ‘This is not good for you. This is not good for me.’ That’s a tough thing to confront. But when you do, I think you grow.”
Clarkson implied that she’s not reentering the dating scene anytime soon.
“Dating sucks,” she expressed.
The “Chemistry” vocalist remarked that it can be very “awkward” encountering someone new. “I was single until I was, like, 30, and I forgot how really proficient at that I am,” she commented.
But if she did opt to reintegrate herself into that world, she has an idea of what she’s seeking in a future companion.
“I told a friend (that a conceivable companion) would have to be an individual that brings their own life to the table without requiring anything from me. It’s far more intimate to say, ‘I want you, but I don’t need anything.’ I’m in a really good place right now, I’m having a good time,” she added.
