People.com Entertainment Music Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's Relationship: A Look Back Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock eloped in 2013, seven years after they first crossed paths at a music event. After having two children together, Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020. By Melody Chiu Melody Chiu Instagram Twitter Melody Chiu is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE. She has been with the brand since 2009, editing, writing and reporting across all entertainment verticals. She oversees PEOPLE's music and events coverage and has written cover stories on Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Melissa McCarthy, Blake Shelton and Sandra Oh. The Los Angeles native graduated from the University of Southern California and has appeared on Extra!, The Talk, Access Hollywood and Good Morning America. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 11, 2020 03:40 PM Share Tweet Pin Email When Kelly Clarkson started dating music manager Brandon Blackstock in 2012, she had stars in her eyes. The American Idol alum and Blackstock first crossed paths in 2006. Six years later, Blackstock proposed, and the pair eloped in October 2013. Clarkson became stepmom to his daughter Savannah and son Seth before welcoming daughter River Rose in 2014 and son Remington Alexander in 2016. Their daughter's birth inspired Clarkson to write the song "Piece by Piece," the lyrics of which praised Blackstone as a father. "I started thinking that my husband is such a great father," Clarkson told Glamour in 2015. "He's not an audience guy — he is onstage doing the work with me. He changes diapers, he stays up, and if I've had a late night, he'll wake up with her in the morning. We're definite partners, and I felt so lucky." For years, the singer was candid about past heartbreak and the difficulties of finding a standup partner. Still, many fans were shocked when Clarkson filed for divorce from the music manager in June 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in March 2022. From their intimate wedding to their shocking divorce, here's a look back at the complete timeline of Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's relationship. November 2006: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock meet "I've only had three other boyfriends that I dated, and not really seriously," Clarkson, 38, told PEOPLE in 2013. Crossing paths with Blackstock — who was still married at the time — at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2006, the American Idol alum immediately thought he could be someone special. Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic "This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, 'I'm gonna end up with him. I know it,'" she said previously about Blackstock. Six years later when they met again at the Super Bowl, Blackstock was single — and "I was on the prowl," Clarkson told Ryan Seacrest in 2012 about finally making her move. Kelly Clarkson Files for Divorce from Husband Brandon Blackstock After Nearly 7 Years of Marriage February 5, 2012: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock reconnect at the Super Bowl Six years after their first meeting, Clarkson and Blackstock reunited at Super Bowl XLVI, where Clarkson performed the national anthem. Blackstock was in attendance because his client, Blake Shelton, was performing "America the Beautiful" alongside his then-wife Miranda Lambert. Though Clarkson appeared on TV in front of millions, she was more focused on impressing Blackstock. "I was so nervous because it wasn't that I didn't want to suck for the millions of people watching, I didn't want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy," Clarkson said while performing on SiriusXM in 2017. "I wanted him to be like, 'Damn.' It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!" December 15, 2012: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock get engaged After less than a year of dating, Blackstock popped the question with a yellow diamond. "I'M ENGAGED!!!!! I wanted y'all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever :)," Clarkson tweeted on Dec. 15, 2012. The talk show host put her happiness front and center in the music video for her song "Tie It Up" the next year, which featured multiple couples tying the knot. "I never really thought I'd get married, so it's kind of cool that I fell in love and I'm getting married," she told PEOPLE in a cover story two months after her engagement. October 20, 2013: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock get married After canceling their original wedding plans, Clarkson and Blackstock eloped in October 2013. "I'm officially Mrs. Blackstock," she tweeted at the time. "We got married yesterday at Blackberry Farms in TN, the most beautiful place ever!" The duo had originally planned to have an "earthy" outdoor wedding in the backyard of their Nashville home, but by the summer the planning had become too much and they called it off, opting instead for the low-key event. "Our whole life is a celebration," said Clarkson, who was thrilled to become a stepmom. "That's what we kept laughing about. We don't need another day where we throw a big party. We would rather have an intimate moment that's special." October 30, 2013: Kelly Clarkson teases Brandon Blackstock during taping of Christmas TV special While filming an NBC Christmas TV special at the Las Vegas Venetian, Clarkson teased her new husband when she engaged in banter with a man in the audience. "I will hit on someone and make him jealous," Clarkson said, referencing Blackstock. "I'm just kidding. I love my man." June 12, 2014: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock welcome daughter River Rose "When you get married, it's like official," Clarkson told PEOPLE a month before her wedding. "You're starting a family, and we want to have more children, so we're just excited." Less than a year after tying the knot, Clarkson and Blackstock welcomed a baby girl they named River Rose. Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock, Savannah Blackstock, River Rose Blackstock, Remington Alexander Blackstock, and Seth Blackstock. "I'm totally gonna have a girl. I'm manifesting it! And when I have a girl, you're gonna be like, 'That chick knew it!'" Kelly Clarkson Jokes About Low-Key Mother's Day Plans: 'I Don't Want to Take Care of One Child' April 12, 2016: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock welcome son Remington Alexander Then two years later, their son Remington Alexander joined the family. In true Clarkson form, the star accidentally announced her second pregnancy in front of a sold-out crowd at Los Angeles' Staples Center. "I was not planning on announcing this but … I'm totally pregnant," she said onstage at her show. October 6, 2016: Kelly Clarkson says she and Brandon Blackstock are both "fixed" In an interview on The Jenny McCarthy Show, Clarkson said she and Blackstock made sure they didn't have any more children after Clarkson's two difficult pregnancies. Clarkson said, "I was literally pregnant with Remi, and I was like, 'You are getting fixed. This will never happen to me again.'" She later admitted they both were "fixed." December 30, 2016: Kelly Clarkson posts about Brandon Blackstock and their kids On Dec. 30, 2016, Clarkson posted a photo on Instagram of her two children with Blackstock snuggling up with their father with the caption: "They're all mine.... 😊" November 30, 2017: Brandon Blackstock makes a cameo in Kelly Clarkson’s Carpool Karaoke segment Clarkson showed she was a perfect fit for The Late Late Show host James Corden's popular Carpool Karaoke segment when she appeared on the Nov. 30, 2017, edition of the series. Not only did Clarkson sing some of her hits, but Blackstock also popped into the car for a quick date with Clarkson. He brought sparkling apple cider, a rose, chocolate-covered strawberries and a violinist for the occasion. May 20, 2018: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock walk the Billboard Music Awards red carpet Before Clarkson hosted the 2018 Billboard Music Awards, she walked the red carpet in Las Vegas with Blackstock. They were joined by Savannah, Blackstock's daughter with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth. March 31, 2019: Brandon Blackstock surprises Kelly Clarkson onstage during her concert For the final show of Clarkson's Meaning of Life Tour in Greenville, S.C., Clarkson's husband surprised her onstage during her song "Piece by Piece." Blackstock came in from the side stage and switched places with her guitarist as a joke. Clarkson teared up at the sweet surprise. "I'm so sad," Clarkson later told the crowd. "This is our last show. Here's to literally my favorite tour, totally gonna cry. My husband just totally surprised me playing a faux guitar on 'Piece by Piece,' and I lost my mind in the tent back there. It's totally fine. Get your crap together." April 24, 2020: Brandon Blackstock and children wish Kelly Clarkson a happy birthday During the April 24 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show that aired on Clarkson's 38th birthday, she was surprised by a video sent in by Blackstock featuring their children wishing her a happy birthday. June 4, 2020: Kelly Clarkson files for divorce from Brandon Blackstock PEOPLE confirmed Clarkson filed for divorce on June 4. Aside from being her manager, Blackstock also serves as an executive producer on her NBC talk show. Clarkson had been social distancing at the couple's Montana ranch with Blackstock and their children amid the coronavirus pandemic, even filming remote episodes of her talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show from their home. "It's a really beautiful ranch and it's a nice getaway for our family," she said of their months-long retreat. "It's something Brandon and I have dreamed about since we were both kids. This is what we would call home." While there had been few — if any — signs of trouble between the pair, Clarkson put her Los Angeles home on the market for nearly $10 million but removed it. Later that month, a source told PEOPLE that it had been a "stressful time" for the couple, adding, "[Quarantining in Montana] exacerbated any issues." March 2022: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock finalize their divorce Nearly two years after Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock, the former couple finalized their divorce in March 2022. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, the terms included Clarkson paying Blackstock a one-time payment of $1.3 million, monthly child support payments of $45,601 for their two children and monthly spousal support payments of $115,000.