Kelly Clarkson returned to television for the first time since the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

Blackstock, who had been married to Clarkson for almost seven years until their divorce finalized in 2022, sadly passed away from melanoma at the age of 48 on August 7. 

The former couple shared two children together, River Rose, 11, and Remy, 9.

Although Clarkson did not directly address the loss on air, her presence carried added weight as she stepped back into the spotlight.  

During the filming of the season seven premiere of The Kelly Clarkson Show, the episode showcased her signature warmth and humor, alongside moments of genuine emotion.

During one segment, in which Texas flood survivors recounted their harrowing stories, the singer was moved to tears. 

Kelly Clarkson returned to television for the first time since the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock; seen in 2020

Later, she connected with Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell, who were there to promote their movie, A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, discussing ‘the ups and downs of parenting.’

In November 2024, the Barbie star, 35, welcomed her first child, a baby boy, with her husband Tom Ackerley. 

She has not to publicly shared his name, birthday or photos. 

For Farrell, he shares his eldest, James Padraig Farrell, 22, with former partner Kim Bordenave, and his younger son, Henry Tadeusz Farrell, 15, with Alicja Bachleda-Curús.

Clarkson closed the show with a cover of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights.

Those close to the production described the premiere as an especially powerful return.

Music director Jason Halbert, who has worked with Clarkson for years, told USA Today the episode was ’emotional for all of us.’

‘A lot of things changed for all of us in the past year, both personally and professionally,’ he mentioned. ‘You’ll notice some songs express feelings she might not discuss openly.’

Although Clarkson did not directly address the loss on air, her presence carried added weight as she stepped back into the spotlight

While filming the premiere of The Kelly Clarkson Show’s seventh season, the show highlighted her signature warmth and humor as she chatted with Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell.

The A Big Bold Beautiful Journey costars discussed parenthood and how they met

NBC confirmed in a press release that The Kelly Clarkson Show, earlier this month, that production would resume on September 8.

It had been on a break since June. 

Upcoming episodes will feature high-profile guests including Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Sylvester Stallone and Matthew McConaughey. 

Amid Blackstock’s secret cancer battle, Clarkson was absent during a number of episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show in February and March. 

Blackstock passed away following a ‘brave and courageous’ three-year battle of melanoma cancer, per the obit shared by Butte Funeral Home.

Clarkson closed the show with a cover of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights

Blackstock’s obituary notably included the bombshell revelation that he had been in a relationship with Kelly’s past assistant leading up to his death. 

Clarkson and Blackstock had first met in 2006 but didn’t begin dating until six years later in 2012. 

The following year, the pair tied the knot during a ceremony that was held at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee. 

But in June 2020, the talk show host filed for divorce and cited the reason for the split as ‘irreconcilable differences.’ The divorce was finalized two years later. 

Blackstock passed away at the age of 48 following a ‘brave and courageous’ three-year battle of melanoma cancer , per the obit shared by Butte Funeral Home; seen in 2018

‘I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn’t an overnight decision,’ Kelly said on Angie Martinez’s IRL podcast in 2023. 

‘I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen.’ 

She also sued her ex-husband last year after accusing him of making unauthorized business deals on her behalf.

They settled their lawsuits over commissions in May 2024, ending a contentious legal battle that began after their divorce was finalized two years earlier.