EXCLUSIVE: Dressed-down Kelly Clarkson steps out with kids – and no ex

Kelly Clarkson enjoyed Mother’s Day Weekend by taking her two kids to a soccer game as her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock was nowhere in sight. The American Idol alum, country star and TV talk show host seemed in good spirits and mingled with other moms while watching over daughter River, 7, and son Remington, 6, in a park in Van Nuys, California, on Saturday afternoon. 

She wore a baseball cap with a lion’s head logo, leggings and a T-shirt dedicated to late singer Whitney Houston.

Last week it was revealed that a judge agreed with a request from Brandon for Kelly to disable all security cameras on their Montana ranch, where he is currently living while they iron out their remaining differences. The couple split in 2020 after almost seven years of marriage but have bickered heavily while sharing legal custody of their kids.

In March of this year it emerged Kelly, 40, agreed to pay Brandon, 45, a one-time payment of $1,326,161 plus $46,601/month in child support payments. She is also on the hook for fees of $115,000 in spousal support until January 31, 2024. Last year, it was reported that Clarkson earns $22.8 million per year thanks to her successful talk show and music career. 

Clarkson will also be shelling out a ‘reimbursement’ payment of $50,000 for private air travel for the children as they continue to fly private until they’re fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to The Blast.

The pair share joint custody of their little ones, who reside in Los Angeles with their mom and visit their father in Montana one weekend a month. Blackstock will remain living at their Montana ranch, and pay Clarkson $2,000 a month in rent until he moves out in June.

This comes two months after Clarkson finalized her name change to Kelly Brianne just weeks after her divorce from Blackstock. The talk show host was granted the new moniker by a judge in California on Monday, March 28. 

UsWeekly obtained legal documents on Tuesday which state: ‘There being no objections, the petition for change of name is granted. ‘The Decree is signed and filed. The Petitioner’s name is changed from KELLY BRIANNE CLARKSON to KELLY BRIANNE.’ 

The singer clarified that the name change is simply for her personal life, and quipped that it is ‘too late’ to change her public name now in an interview. Talking to People (the TV Show!) she joked: ‘I don’t think I can change Clarkson at this point. I’m 20 years in!’ 

The news that she wanted to change her name came in the wake of her tumultuous divorce from Blackstock. ‘I just got divorced, so I had to drop my married last name,’ she told People (the TV Show!). ‘I just kept my middle name for my personal life. I’m still Kelly Clarkson.’ She said in late February that she had a ‘desire’ to switch to Kelly Brianne as her ‘new name more fully reflects who’ she is, according to multiple reports. 

It comes after the singer filed for divorce from her ex in June 2020, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’ However, she never legally took on her ex-spouse’s surname. ‘Clarkson’ is her own family name. Pictured: Kelly and Brandon in 2020.