Kelly Clarkson made no secret of the devastation she suffered when her marriage to Brandon Blackstock crumbled.

As their contentious divorce played out publicly, the two engaged in heated disputes over finances. Clarkson was compelled to pay millions to the late music manager, whom she later accused of conducting unauthorized business transactions on her behalf.

Unknown to the public, Blackstock, 48, was also privately battling cancer, ultimately losing his fight earlier this month, three years following his diagnosis.

Despite their strained relationship, Clarkson, 43, grapples with guilt over his passing. Insiders revealed to the Daily Mail that she wonders if the stress from their divorce may have negatively affected his health.

“Kelly is conscious of discussions suggesting that stress can influence the body and heighten cancer susceptibility,” an insider informed the Daily Mail. “While the timing might be coincidental, she is aware of the immense pressure their divorce and lawsuits exerted on them.

“She doesn’t hold herself responsible, but she acknowledges that the combination of the divorce and his obligation to repay her a substantial sum was exceedingly challenging for him.”

Kelly Clarkson experiences a degree of guilt regarding her late ex-husband’s death, with insiders sharing with the Daily Mail that she has pondered whether the stress from their divorce adversely affected his health.

Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock were married for seven years before they split in 2020, setting off a protracted bout of legal acrimony over money

Clarkson and Blackstock were married for seven years from 2013 before they split in 2020, setting off a protracted bout of legal acrimony over money.

The divorce dragged on for a year and a half before it was ultimately finalized in March 2022. It led to a brutal fight between the exes, with Clarkson eventually securing primary custody of their two children River, 11, and Remington, nine. She relocated from Los Angeles to New York City for a ‘fresh start.’

The three-time Grammy winner agreed to a massive one-off payment of $1.3million to Blackstock as well as $115,000 per month in spousal support until January 31, 2024. After that time, she was required to pay him $45,000 in monthly child support until their children turn 18 in 2032 and 2034.

Clarkson also agreed to give a five percent share of her $17.7million Montana ranch to Blackstock after months of back and forth over the property they once shared.

For his part, Blackstock was ordered to return $2.6million after he reportedly overcharged Clarkson by millions when he represented her as a manager, collecting fees for booking The Voice and other endorsements like Wayfair and Norwegian Cruise Line.

Clarkson released a bitter break-up album – Chemistry – in 2023 which detailed the ‘good, the bad and the ugly’ of her relationship with her ex.

During an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that year, the Texas native admitted she ‘cried so hard’ she ‘couldn’t even speak’ during the years when she realized their marriage wasn’t going to survive.

Clarkson and Blackstock in 2019, a year before they split, with their children River and Remington, now 11 and nine

‘The stress that all this brought is not good for anyone’s health,’ said a second insider. ‘She doesn’t want to harp on about what this might have done for Brandon’s health, but it does cross her mind’ (pictured with her son Remington in 2024)

The album felt like a cathartic process for the singer who wanted to capture ‘the arc of an entire relationship’ instead of simply the anger and sadness.

But the bitterness is evident on tracks like Red Flag Collector where she seemingly calls out his bid for her money.

‘Sure, you can have the towels / You can take my money,’ she sings. ‘Drag my name ’round town / I don’t mind, I changed it anyway.’

Little did fans know, amid the saga, Blackstock had been diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2022.

Clarkson missed multiple episodes of her eponymous talk show in March for what was described at the time as a ‘personal matter.’ 

Then earlier this month she announced she was postponing the remaining dates on her Las Vegas residency due to her ex-husband falling ‘ill.’ At the time she didn’t give any more details, simply writing: ‘While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.’

But hours later a representative for the family confirmed Blackstock’s death in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.’

Now the talk show host, who was omitted from Blackstock’s obituary which made public his romance with Clarkson’s former assistant Brittney Marie Jones, is worried the stress of their bitter battle could have impacted his health. 

Blackstock had been in a relationship with Clarkson’s former assistant Brittney Marie Jones and was quietly building a new life with her in Montana, a fact unknown to many fans

‘The stress that all this brought is not good for anyone’s health,’ said a second insider. ‘She doesn’t want to harp on about what this might have done for Brandon’s health, but it does cross her mind. And it does make her think that maybe she could of done more, even though that is unrealistic at its core.’

Instead she is working through her emotions by focusing on their two children. 

‘She separated her personal feelings about Brandon after the divorce, and she progressed from there,’ the insider continued. ‘While it was frustrating to deal with him in divorce, once the cancer came into the situation, she felt bad, it took a toll on her because she had to think of her kids’ feelings and to protect them. 

‘Now that he is gone, she doesn’t feel great. But being there for her kids is helping her to cope with the onslaught of emotions.’