Singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson has opened up about her emotional healing journey following the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
The “American Idol” winner got candid about grief during a heartfelt conversation with Lionel Richie on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday. The two discussed Richie’s new memoir, Truly, which explores love, loss, and life lessons.
Clarkson praised Richie’s reflections on grief, quoting from his book: “I do think a lot of people deal with grief in such a different way, but I love that you say, ‘Grief is the great teacher of what matters most.’ And I think, no matter how you deal with grief, it is very different for everyone. But I do find that very, very true.”
When she asked Richie how he came to understand grief in that way, the music legend replied, “It’s a real moment where you can’t phone it in, but at the same time, we rehearse things. You can’t rehearse grief. You can’t rehearse the loss of your mother or your father or a friend.”
“It hits you in waves,” Clarkson added, visibly emotional.
Richie, 76, continued, “When I get involved with the word uncontrollable grief, I let go. Believe it or not, I look forward to finding out who I’m really going to be, because that’s the real me. If it hurts so badly, that means you love so deeply.”
In a light-hearted moment, Richie stood up and placed his hand on Clarkson’s forehead, jokingly performing what he called a “grief exorcism.” The audience burst into laughter as Clarkson smiled and said, “I feel healed.”
The emotional segment comes just months after Clarkson, 43, was spotted wearing a Le Stelle (The Star) Tarot Card pendant by Sorellina Jewelry while walking through LAX airport. The $22,000 necklace symbolizes hope, healing, and renewal — a clear nod to her ongoing journey toward peace.
According to the jewelry brand, the pendant represents light after darkness and “serves as a reminder to keep a renewed sense of hope during difficult periods.”
Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, passed away in August at the age of 48 after a private three-year battle with melanoma. The couple, who share two children — River and Remington — were married from 2013 until their divorce in 2022.
A source close to Clarkson told People that she was “devastated” by his death but remained strong for their children. “When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,” the insider shared. “She’s been devastated for the kids.”
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