Kelly Clarkson Files Lawsuit Against Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock, Seeks Retroactive Fees

Kelly Clarkson Is Suing Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images; Taylor Hill/Getty Images

Kelly Clarkson, who recently won a $2.6 million ruling against her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, has filed a new lawsuit against him and his father's management company, Starstruck Entertainment.

The 41-year-old singer filed the case in a Los Angeles court on Monday, March 11, alleging that Starstruck violated state labor rules by acting as unlicensed talent agents who secured business deals.

Billboard reports that Clarkson is looking to retrieve all the money she paid to Starstruck, owned by Brandon's father, Narvel Blackstock.

According to Clarkson's new filing obtained by Rolling Stone, she is requesting that all agreements with Starstruck be considered void due to their wrongful acts. Clarkson also wants any money previously paid to Starstruck to be returned to her immediately.

Kelly Clarkson Is Suing Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock

Seth Blackstock, Remington Alexander Blackstock, Savannah Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, River Rose Blackstock, and Brandon Blackstock Steve Granitz/WireImage

Clarkson and Blackstock, 47, have been in several legal disputes since their split in 2020. Shortly after the couple filed for divorce, Starstruck sued her for millions, insisting it had “invested a great deal of time, money, energy and dedication” into the singer and had “developed Clarkson into a mega superstar.”

Clarkson then accused Starstruck of violating California’s Talent Agencies Act by serving as unlicensed talent agents. Last November, a judge ruled that the agency had procured deals for Clarkson, including her job as a judge on The Voice, when Clarkson’s team at Creative Artists Agency should have been the ones to do so. Brandon then had to repay the $2.6 million in commissions for that deal and others.

Brandon's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, addressed the recent filing, stating that it is inappropriate to seek money from an ex-spouse who supported their ex-wife as a manager and used the earnings to provide for their children and maintain their lifestyle during the marriage.

The previous case only looked into financial matters up to 2017, while the new filing extends back to 2007.

Brandon is currently appealing the decision in the previous case, with a hearing scheduled for August. However, if Clarkson wins the current case, it could weaken Brandon's appeal.

Clarkson and Brandon got married in 2013 but split up in 2020. This led to a series of legal issues between them, which have dragged on even after their divorce was finalized in 2022. As part of the divorce settlement, Clarkson was required to make a one-time payment of $1.3 million to Brandon, as well as pay $45,601 every month for child support. The couple has two children together, a 9-year-old daughter named River and a 7-year-old son named Remington.

Editor's P/S:

Kelly Clarkson's ongoing legal battle with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, has taken a new turn with her latest lawsuit against him and his father's management company, Starstruck Entertainment. The singer alleges that Starstruck violated labor laws by acting as unlicensed talent agents, prompting her to seek the return of all payments made to the company. This move further intensifies the legal disputes between the former couple, which have persisted since their split in 2020.

Clarkson's previous victory in court, where she was awarded $2.6 million from Starstruck, has set the stage for this latest filing. The singer's pursuit of additional compensation and the voiding of agreements with Starstruck could weaken Brandon's appeal in the previous case. The ongoing legal proceedings highlight the complex financial and managerial issues that can arise in high-profile divorces, particularly when it involves the involvement of third parties. both Clarkson and Blackstock.