Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband ordered to pay her ‘millions’

Kelly Clarkson has scored a huge win in her bitter battle against her ex-husband.

Brandon Blackwell and Kelly Clarkson.

Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband has been ordered to pay the star millions of dollars for
“unlawfully procured” business deals.

Brandon Blackstock helped orchestrate several business deals for his ex-wife Clarkson while serving as her manager — but he wasn’t supposed to, a California labour commissioner has ruled this week.

Brandon Blackwell and Kelly Clarkson.

Clarkson and Blackstock were married for nearly seven years before she filed for divorce in June 2020, which was finalised two years later. At the time, the singer was ordered to pay her ex-husband monthly child support of $45,601 ($67,840 for their two children, plus a one-time payment of just over $1.3 million. He also currently gets $115,000 ($173,500) a month in spousal support, but that comes to an end next month.

Now, however, the latest victory in their prolonged feud lies firmly in Clarkson’s court.

According to documents obtained by PEOPLE, Clarkson’s ex been ordered to pay her $2,641,374 ($3,981,660) for overstepping in his managerial role and unlawfully procuring deals that should’ve been handled by a talent agent. His legal team has filed to appeal the ruling.

The lawsuit filed by Clarkson claimed her ex had secured her contracts with The Voice, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Norwegian Cruise Line, Wayfair and the Billboard Music Awards, and taken substantial fees in return for his service.

US singer Kelly Clarkson performs during the Rockefeller Center's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in New York, on November 29, 2023. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP)

However, as Clarkson’s manager at the time, this went against laws in California.

“Under the Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager, like any person without a talent agency license, cannot procure or attempt to procure employment for artists,” said the ruling.

Clarkson has spoken about her divorce publicly on a number of occasions, calling the process “difficult”.

“You can ask anyone who’s gone through a divorce, I don’t think anyone expects it,” the Grammy winner said on Today in September 2020. “You see yourself growing old with someone and then life has a different path. It’s so hard on everyone, and you know me, I’m really open. I try to be open and share. It’s just a tricky thing to navigate.”

“We all go through things,” she continued. “But at the same time, we have four kids total with each other. That’s a lot of hearts involved, and you just have to be really careful. We’re in the public eye so that’s hard too, to try and be truthful but also keep your privacy.”