Kelly Clarkson's Ex-Husband Ordered to Return 'Millions' to Singer

Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock

While Kelly Clarkson and ex-husband Brandon Blackstock settled their divorce in early 2022, they still had other aspects of their relationship to settle in court.

Now, a labor commissioner ordered Blackstock to return over $2 million to Clarkson that he allegedly overcharged her during his time as her manager.

According to legal documents obtained by TMZ, a California labor commissioner declared that Blackstock, who helped manage Clarkson through his family's company, Starstruck Management Group, for 13 years, unlawfully booked jobs for her and overcharged a commission.

Only agents, not managers, are allowed to book gigs for their clients save a few exceptions, and during this time, Clarkson was repped by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA). While working with Clarkson, Blackstock was never a legally certified talent agent.

For his part in booking Clarkson's roles with The Voice, Norwegian Cruise Line, the Billboard Music Awards and Wayfair, Blackstock has been ordered to pay back $2,641,374. Blackstock stated that he would be appealing the order.

The ongoings regarding Blackstock's role as Clarkson's manager began when his company filed a lawsuit against the singer in September 2020 claiming that she had unpaid commissions in connection to The Voice and The Kelly Clarkson Show, as reported by Today.

In October of that year, Clarkson filed a petition with the California Labor Commission claiming that Blackstock committed multiple violations of the California labor code, including demanding "unconscionable fees and compensation" while acting "in conflict of interest with (her) best interests."

In response, a lawyer for Starstruck Management Group named Bryan Freedman told TMZ, "It is unfortunate that Kelly is again attempting to avoid paying commissions that are due and owing to Starstruck to try and achieve some perceived advantage in her ongoing custody and divorce proceedings.”

Blackstock and Clarkson got married in late 2013 and were together until June 2020, when the "Since U Been Gone" singer filed for divorce. The split was finalized nearly two years later. Throughout their marriage, they had two children together—a daughter named River Rose and a son named Remington Alexander.

Since the split, Clarkson has occasionally commented on her relationship with her former husband, also sharing how it influenced her newest album Chemistry. 

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