What you need to know
Kelly Clarkson has opened up about how her children are doing five months after the death of their father and ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
In a YouTube question-and-answer session published on The Kelly Clarkson Show’s official channel, Clarkson, 43, answered a fan’s question asking her to share the one thing she does every day that brings her joy. The answer included her and Blackstock’s two children, daughter River and son Remington “Remy.”
“Cuddle up,” she replied. “My kids, they’re 9 and 11. It’s like a special little fun stage where they can wipe their own butts, but they’re still young enough that they love to cuddle and they love to snuggle.”
“We’ve had a lot going on in our family lately, so we’ve been having our kids sleep with us for quite some time,” she continued.
“It’s two dogs, two kids and me. It’s tough,” she joked. “But it was really special because…the conversations during that time are so cute. So it’s probably my favorite time of the day.”
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Blackstock’s family announced that he passed away on August 7, 2025 at the age of 48. Blackstock, a talent manager and former stepson of Reba McEntire, was diagnosed with melanoma three years before her death.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a representative for the family told PEOPLE at the time. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for over three years. He passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this extremely difficult time.”
Mr Blackstock also has two children, Savannah and Seth, from a previous marriage, and his eldest son Savannah gave birth to son Lake in 2022, making him a grandfather.
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A source exclusively told PEOPLE earlier this week that Clarkson is “heartbroken” for her children after losing their father.
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“Kelly is clearly grieving for her children. Losing their father is incredibly painful and confusing,” the source said. “But she’s also a very grounded person. She’s not one to fall apart. She looks at life realistically and does everything she can to keep things as stable as possible and to be loving to her children.”
Clarkson is “focused on being there for her children,” the source said, adding: “She is an amazing mother.”
After nearly seven years of marriage, Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in 2020, and the divorce was finalized two years later. Although their divorce was painful and the couple were embroiled in various legal proceedings, sources say Clarkson recognized the importance of her children’s relationship with their father.
“The divorce was incredibly difficult for her. It was messy, painful and scary for her,” another source tells PEOPLE. “But she always wanted her children to have the best relationship possible with their father. She never had a bad word to say about Brandon to her children.”
