Kelly Clarkson is one of the most successful recording artists to emerge from the world
of American Idol, releasing hit after hit since she won the first season back in 2002.
Her other half, music manager Brandon Blackstock, is also at the top of his career, but while
these two seem smitten, that doesn't mean there aren't some quirks in their relationship.
Here are some things you may not know about Clarkson and Blackstock's marriage.
Taken
Clarkson and Blackstock's meet cute was a very slow burn.
They started dating in 2012, but they first met in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy
of Country Music Awards, when Blackstock's father Narvel was Clarkson's manager.
In 2017, Clarkson recalled their first meeting on a SiriusXM show, saying,
"Literally, I'm not joking, he walked past us at that time…
I was like, ready to take it all off.
I just felt something."
But at the time, Blackstock was still married to his first wife.
Clarkson explained,
"[I] ain't that girl.
Honestly, I didn't even talk to him."
Blended
While many blended families struggle to get along, Clarkson thrives in her role as a stepmom
to Savannah and Seth, Blackstock's children with his previous wife.
Clarkson told Ryan Seacrest in 2013,
"We all live together and everything.
It's so different, but it's perfect.
They're awesome, and I actually really dig the mom thing.
We all work really well together, but I'm totally my mom.
My mom was a hard mom.
I'm probably that mom."
The married pair are also parents to daughter River Rose and son Remington.
Date night?
Clarkson and Blackstock are so busy being loving parents and successful collaborators
that it's hard to find time for themselves.
Luckily, James Corden came to the rescue during Clarkson's "Carpool Karaoke" appearance in
2017.
"Do you get to spend a lot of time together outside of work, the two of you?"
"I think it's difficult because obviously, I work a lot and I'm a mom, but we try."
"Is this Intervention?"
Blackstock then showed up, and Corden proceeded to set up a backseat date for the couple.
"Okay, it's a date night the kids aren't here."
"I feel like we're making a porn."
Former mother-in-law
In case you missed this weird connection, for a while there, Reba McEntire was Clarkson's
mother-in-law.
The country music icon was married to Blackstock's father for 26 years, before the two divorced
in 2015.
However, Clarkson and McEntire have remained close since the split, getting together for
family gatherings and continuing to collaborate musically.
Clarkson spoke candidly about their relationship on Watch What Happens Live, revealing that
they text, talk shop, and share videos with the kids.
"She actually texted me at like 7 in the morning at LA time and she knew I was in LA and I
was like what are we doing?'
Manager/husband
Though his father originally worked for Clarkson, Blackstock eventually took over managing his
wife's career, which weirdly enough, did wonders for their marriage.
Clarkson claims it works perfectly because he truly understands every part of her day,
whether she's in a great mood or feeling bummed out.
She told People in 2016,
"At the same time we do have these moments where I'm like, 'Okay, you're managing me
right now.
And he will be like, 'Okay, you're being that really artsy person that's like up and down
right now.'"
While she claims they are, quote, "yin and yang," Clarkson now understands why so many
of her role models married their managers.
She explained,
"With this specific job, it's such a busy job.
It's 24/7, so if I weren't [managed by him], I wouldn't be with him.
So it kind of makes sense.
I think that's why Céline [Dion] did it.
I think that's why Mariah [Carey] did it.
I know a lot of artists do that because it makes sense."
Anniversary fails
Clarkson and Blackstock obviously make a great team, but sometimes their busy schedules conflict
with important moments in their personal lives.
We have forgotten two out of four of our anniversaries.
But the great thing about us is we collectively do it.
It's not like one of us forgets and one of us remembers.
We both epically fail."
In 2017, the couple was completely distracted by the release of Clarkson's holiday hit,
"Christmas Eve."
Clarkson revealed that after wishing her husband a "Happy Christmas song release day" that
morning...
"He was like, 'Or happy anniversary,' I freaked out.
I panicked like I'm the only one who forgot, but he forgot too."
Turns out Blackstock was reminded about the big day by social media posts from fans!
Clarkson shook the whole thing off, saying,
"We're so happy we just forget.
Every day is an anniversary."
This romantic pair may have their share of quirks, but at the end of the day, Clarkson
and Blackstock are total "#relationship-goals."
"Even if someone doesn't like it I'm like well you suck and you have no taste at all."
Just take a peek at the "Love So Soft" singer's Instagram feed and see if you can even handle
all the cuteness!
"You're tryin to make me cry right now, you're tryin to Oprah me, you're tryin to Oprah me!"
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