Why Kelly Clarkson Is Changing Her Name
American Idol winner and talk show host Kelly Clarkson has been in the entertainment industry for over two decades. Throughout that time, she’s undergone several personal changes and experiences — one of which is now affecting her name.
Kelly Clarkson divorced her husband
Kelly Clarkson married music manager Brandon Blackstock in 2013; Clarkson gave birth to their first child together, a daughter named River Rose, in June 2014, and their second child, a son named Remington “Remy” Alexander, was born in April 2016.
But in June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock after seven years of marriage. Clarkson was declared legally single in September 2021.
Kelly Clarkson is changing her name
In February 2022, Clarkson filed documents with the court where she expressed that she wanted to drop her last name, Clarkson, and instead by referred to by her first and middle name: Kelly Brianne. “My new name more fully reflects who I am,” she explained in the documents obtained by Us Weekly.
In March 2022, she was walking the red carpet at the premiere of her new singing competition show, American Song Contest, where she clarified why she wanted to make the switch. “I just got divorced, so I had to drop my married last name,” she told People.
Still, she admitted that she’ll likely be known as Kelly Clarkson for the rest of her life. “I just kept my middle name for my personal life. I’m still Kelly Clarkson,” she continued. “I don’t think I can change Clarkson at this point. I’m 20 years in!”
She doesn’t want to date any time soon
Even though she’s single at the moment, Clarkson isn’t in any rush to start dating. In December 2021, she spoke to the Love Someone with Delilah podcast about her romantic life in the future — and in that future, she doesn’t see marriage.
“I do know I won’t get married again, but I just mean you never know about love, it’s one of those things where we’re engineered — especially from where I’m from ‚ to have to have that,” she said. “I don’t have that need.”
The divorce process has been lengthy, but ultimately, she doesn’t look back on anything she did with regret.“I regret nothing,” the singer stated plainly. “I feel like that’s what shapes you. It’s what makes you a better person. It’s what makes you recognize, ‘O.K., I missed those red flags. I missed that or I ignored that on purpose.’”
For now, the hitmaking singer and TV host just wants to take things slow. “I’ve already had people be like, ‘Let me know when you’re wanting to date.’ It’s like, you know what, I don’t think you have to have someone with you all the time,” she confessed. “I really do enjoy my work, my kids, my creative self. Sometimes I got stifled in relationships. It’s hard to be as creative as I can because sometimes I wear my heart on my sleeve.”
