KELLY Clarkson and husband Brandon Blackstock were reportedly having problems for months before their marriage came to an end during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Sun confirmed on Thursday that the couple, who was married for seven years, filed for divorce on June 4.
Sources close to Kelly, 38, and Brandon, 43, revealed to Entertainment Tonight that quarantine made things worse in their relationship.
The informant – who said that those closest to them knew things were bad – revealed: “Kelly and Brandon had been having problems for several months and were making a conscious effort to work things out.
“They both hoped quarantining away from L.A. in Montana would help them work things out in their marriage, but instead the change in environment was actually detrimental.”
“The constant time together seemed to make an already challenging situation worse,” the informant explained, while adding that The Voice coach’s career “definitely helped to keep her mind off things, but this recent downtime gave her the time she needed to think about her life and her marriage.”
The source also noted that the Since U Been Gone singer started the divorce process “they’d both been dreading” a few weeks ago, after “Kelly knew she just needed to follow her heart and finally realized divorce was her only option.”
“Kelly and Brandon haven’t cut each other off; they are still talking to one another. They are both heartbroken, but their plan is to put the kids first,” the source added.
“Their focus is on co-parenting and moving forward, as this is the last place they ever thought they would be.
“They both understand divorce is never easy for children, but Kelly and Brandon are great parents. It’ll just take time.”
The source further explained that Kelly “has always been a very organized businesswoman, so her decision to have a prenup just reflects that and protects her earnings. Kelly is very kindhearted, generous and giving, so Brandon will be just fine.”
Just yesterday, news broke that Kelly had filed for divorce and cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for divorce.
In the court documents obtained by The Sun, she also wrote “TBD” for the date of separation.
The star requested joint legal and physical custody but asked the court not to award Brandon any spousal support.
The wealthy superstar also requested the court enforce a prenup signed on October 15, 2013, and restore her maiden name, Kelly Clarkson, from her current legal name, Kelly Blackstock.
This split comes after Kelly decided to spend her birthday completely alone in April, revealing the strange development on Late Night with Seth Meyers last month.
She told the late-night talk show host: “I looked at my husband because it was a rough week of work and non-stop everything, and I said, ‘I don’t want to cook one damn meal, I don’t want to clean one article of clothing, I don’t want to do anything.’
“For my birthday, I literally asked to be left alone which is funny because we’re all in isolation but I’m not in isolation because I’m constantly surrounded by people.
“I was alone and I enjoyed it. I did nothing but eat stuff that made me gain ten pounds and I watched whatever I was watching.”
Just last month, the Voice judge put her $10 million LA mansion on the market while she and her family were quarantining in Montana.
Early in the coronavirus pandemic, Kelly and Brandon were isolating at the Montana mansion they picked up a year and a half ago named Vintage Valley.
They had been holed up in the home with the two kids they share together, as well as his two teens, daughter Savannah and son Seth, from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth.
The Grammy-winning singer, who catapulted to superstardom after winning season 1 of American Idol in 2002, no longer follows Brandon on Instagram, though she hasn’t unfollowed him on Twitter just yet.
In 2012, Kelly started dating Brandon after knowing him for years through her former manager and his father, Narvel Blackstock, as well as through Brandon’s former stepmom, Reba McEntire.
After a year together, the couple tied the knot at Blackberry Farm, a luxury resort in Walland, Tennessee, on October 20, 2013.
Brandon, a talent rep like his father, took over as Kelly’s manager after they got married.
He also manages her fellow Voice coach, Blake Shelton.
In 2014, the I Dare You singer welcomed her and Brandon’s first child together, daughter River Rose.
A couple of years later, son Remington was born.
Aside from her singing competition coaching gig, Kelly also currently hosts The Kelly Clarkson Show, which Brandon also works on as an executive producer.
