Celebrity

Reba McEntire Is Lovingly Neutral in Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Divorce

Reba McEntire says she loves both Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock with all her heart. So, she isn't publicly taking sides in their divorce. But why did some observers think she might?

by Katie Rook

Published on December 10, 2021

2 min read

Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from Brandon Blackstock in 2020

To briefly catch up on Clarkson and Blackstock’s story, they started dating in 2012 and he was soon her manager. They married in 2013, then had kids in 2014 and 2016. Blackstock also had two children from a previous marriage.

As reported by People, Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, listing irreconcilable differences as her reason. In 2020, she received primary custody of their children. But she was ordered to pay almost $200,000 a month to Blackstock in spousal and child support.

A judge authorized a dissolution of their marriage in August of 2021, declaring both legally single. But their divorce will not be finalized until January of 2022.

The two have continued legal discussions over assets. In October of 2021, the court awarded Clarkson a Montana ranch worth an estimated $10 million, according to CNN. Blackstock attempted to argue it was marital property, but the couple’s prenuptial agreement refuted that.

Reba McEntire: ‘I love them both with all my heart’

Notably, McEntire and Narvel Blackstock, Brandon’s father, divorced in 2015 after 26 years of marriage. She’s still fond of his son and when asked for comment on the divorce, she called him her stepson. But she pointed out that she and Clarkson have also been friends for a long time.

So, she wants them both to be “happy and healthy and pull through this.”

“You know I love them both. Brandon’s my stepson, Kelly’s my good friend, and I’m pulling for both of them,” she told Extra.

“I pray that everybody gives them the encouragement that they can because they need it right now, both of them do,” she went on. “I love them both with all my heart.”

Notably, the interviewer asked specifically what advice McEntire might have for Clarkson as an entertainer going through divorce in the spotlight.

Narvel Blackstock sued Kelly Clarkson after she filed for divorce

Notably it was Narvel Blackstock who eventually introduced Clarkson to his son when they began dating. At that point, the elder Blackstock was her manager.

However, his management company sued her after she filed for divorce. Blackstock’s Starstruck Management Group represented Clarkson for 13 years and claimed she owed them more than $1 million. In response, she filed a labor petition and claimed the Blackstocks weren’t licensed talent agents, according to People.

Clarkson’s petition also claimed Starstruck “failed to submit a written application for a license, failed to write a formal talent agency agreement with her, demanded ‘unconscionable fees and compensation’ from her for ‘illegal services,’ gave her false information in regards to their engagements, failed to deposit a $50,000 surety bond with the Labor Commissioner,” among other violations.

Bryan Freedman, attorney for Starstruck, refuted the information in the petition. He told People, “It is unfortunate that Kelly is again attempting to avoid paying commissions that are due and owing to Starstruck to try and achieve some perceived advantage in her ongoing custody and divorce proceedings.”

While McEntire has since taken over management of her own career, Starstruck was once her management agency, as well.