Kelly Clarkson is starting 2024 by closing an expensive chapter of her life as she makes her final spousal support payment to her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
The singer and talk show host, who filed for divorce from Blackstock in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage, has been paying him $115,000 a month since their divorce was settled in March 2022. She also paid him a one-time, tax-free fee of $1,326,161.
But as of January 2024, Clarkson is free from her spousal support obligations and is ready to move on with her life.
“Kelly is feeling relieved that her spousal support to Brandon has come to an end,” a source exclusively tells . “She’s been ready for this for a while now and is so happy her payments to Brandon will be complete. It’s so nice knowing that this chapter of her life can close with the new year.”
The insider adds, “Kelly’s looking at this as a fresh start and she couldn’t be happier for a clean slate in 2024.”
Clarkson, 41, and Blackstock, 47, share two children, River, 9, and Remington, 7, whom Clarkson has primary custody of. She also pays $45,601 a month in child support until they turn 18, graduate high school or become self-supporting.
The former couple also had a dispute over their Montana ranch, which Clarkson was ordered to pay $81,000 a month in rent for until it was sold. The property was finally sold in December 2023 for $6.3 million, according to TMZ.
Clarkson also won a legal victory against Blackstock last month, when a California labor commissioner ruled that he had to pay her back $2,641,374 for taking fees from deals he obtained for her without being a licensed talent agent. Blackstock has filed to appeal the decision.
Despite the drama, Clarkson has been focusing on her career and her kids. She recently relocated to New York City, where she films season 5 of her Emmy-winning The Kelly Clarkson Show at 30 Rockefeller Center.
She told USA Today in October 2023 that she was excited about the move and the new opportunities it offered.
read more – Disney’s New Christmas Film Faces Backlash, Dubbed a Wreck
“What’s cool for me with season 5 is I am in such a great place, not only with my kids but with me personally and with the show,” she said. “I feel like a weight has lifted. That move was very needed.”
She added, “I’m most excited about being in New York because, on a selfish level, I can finally start showing up to work smiling and meaning it.”