Kelly Clarkson’s High-Stakes Divorce: Brandon Blackstock Seeks Over $430K Monthly in Spousal and Child Support

The highly publicized divorce proceedings between Grammy-winning singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson and her estranged husband, Brandon Blackstock, have taken a dramatic and financially significant turn. What began as a seemingly amicable separation has quickly escalated into a contentious legal battle, with Blackstock now reportedly demanding a staggering sum in monthly support. The news comes after a crucial custody decision, which saw Kelly awarded primary physical custody of their two young children, ensuring they remain settled in Los Angeles with their mother.

According to recent reports, Brandon Blackstock is seeking a combined total of $436,000 per month from Kelly Clarkson. This substantial figure is broken down into two main components: $301,000 in spousal support and an additional $135,000 in child support. This request translates to an annual payout of over $5.2 million if approved by the court, a sum that has certainly raised eyebrows given the circumstances. It’s particularly notable considering that Blackstock’s direct time with the children will be limited to just a few weekends each month, as per the recent custody arrangement.

A source close to the situation, as cited by PEOPLE, highlighted the disparity in the financial negotiations. “Kelly’s offered to pay for all the kids’ expenses, but Brandon seems to think he is entitled to and needs $301K in spousal support and $135K in child support per month,” the source revealed. Adding to the complexity and cost of the proceedings, Blackstock has also reportedly requested $2 million to cover attorney fees. The source further elaborated on this, stating, “Additionally, he’s already asked for $2M for attorney fees when he’s the one driving up the cost of the divorce with seven attorneys just representing him alone.” HollywoodLife.com has reportedly reached out to legal representatives for both Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock for official comments on these developing claims.

The custody aspect of their divorce reached a temporary resolution on November 30, with Kelly being granted primary physical custody of their two children: six-year-old daughter River Rose and four-year-old son Remy. This decision was pivotal, as Brandon Blackstock had expressed intentions to reside in Montana and had desired a co-parenting arrangement that involved the children regularly traveling between his new residence and Los Angeles, where Kelly’s hugely popular talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” is filmed and produced. However, the court ruled decisively against this proposal. “The court finds that the minor children are not now and have not been residents of Montana and that California is their home state,” the judge declared in official paperwork obtained by HollywoodLife.com, underscoring the legal basis for keeping the children in California.

The judge’s order outlined a specific visitation schedule designed to provide stability for River and Remy while ensuring Brandon maintains a relationship with them. The children will primarily reside with Kelly in Los Angeles. Brandon’s visitation rights stipulate that he will have the children on the first, third, and fifth weekends of each month. For the first and last weekends of his visitation, Brandon will be required to travel to Los Angeles to spend time with the children in their established home environment. The arrangement allows for more flexibility on the third weekend of the month, during which he is permitted to take the children to Montana. This schedule aims to balance the children’s need for consistency with both parents’ desire for meaningful time with them, albeit with a clear geographic preference established by the court.

The substantial nature of Blackstock’s support request, particularly the $436,000 monthly sum, might appear excessive at first glance, especially considering Brandon’s established career as a successful talent manager and the limited direct time he will have with the children. His client roster notably includes prominent country music figures like Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts. However, legal experts explain that such high demands are not uncommon under California’s divorce laws, which are known for having some of the most comprehensive and high-guideline support calculations in the United States. Los Angeles family lawyer Kelly Chang Rickert shed light on this, telling HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY: “California has one of the highest guideline supports in all 50 states, it’s based off income. So YES, depending on Kelly’s salary (which should be in the millions), his request sounds about right.”

Rickert further explained the nuances of child support in situations where there is a significant income disparity between parents, even when one parent does not have majority custody. “You can still get child support if you don’t have majority of the kids, if the other side’s income is far, far greater,” she clarified. This legal principle suggests that even with Kelly having primary custody, her significantly higher income compared to Brandon’s — despite his own success — forms the basis for the substantial child support request. The aim of these laws is often to ensure that children maintain a lifestyle commensurate with that of the higher-earning parent, regardless of which parent has primary physical custody. Therefore, while the raw numbers are striking, they align with California’s legal framework designed to protect the financial well-being of children in high-income divorces.

Kelly, 38, initiated the divorce proceedings against Brandon, 43, on June 4, filing the paperwork in a Los Angeles court. The couple had been married for nearly seven years, and Kelly cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. Their romance began with a whirlwind 10-month courtship before they got engaged in December 2012. They officially tied the knot in a picturesque ceremony on a Tennessee farm on October 20, 2013. Throughout their marriage, Kelly frequently gushed about her profound love for Brandon, often describing their relationship as a “fairy tale.” Her affection for him was so deep that she famously penned songs about their bond, including the poignant and emotionally charged ballad “Piece By Piece.” The news of Kelly’s divorce filing therefore came as a considerable shock to her devoted fanbase and the wider public, as there had been virtually no public indications or whispers of marital discord leading up to the announcement.

When “The Kelly Clarkson Show” returned for its second season in September 2020, Kelly bravely addressed the significant changes in her personal life. She candidly shared with her audience, “As you probably know, 2020 has brought a lot of change also to my personal life. Definitely didn’t see anything coming that came, but what I’m dealing with is hard — it involves more than just my heart, it involves a lot of little hearts.” This touching reference clearly highlighted the emotional toll the divorce was taking not only on her but also on her children. She also acknowledged their blended family, stating, “We have four kids,” which includes Brandon’s two older children from a previous marriage, Seth, 13, and Savannah, 18, in addition to their shared children, River and Remy.

Kelly reiterated her commitment to privacy regarding the more intricate details of her divorce, despite her reputation for being an open and honest personality. “I’m usually very open and I usually talk about everything — but in this case, I will talk a little bit here and there about how it affects me personally but probably won’t go too far into it,” she explained. This stance underscores the protective measures she is taking for her family during what is undeniably a challenging and emotionally charged period, further intensified by the public nature of their lives and the immense financial stakes now at play in their ongoing legal battle.