Kelly Clarkson's Heartrending Struggle Recalling 'Piece by Piece' Lyrics After Devastating Brandon Blackstock Split

Kelly Clarkson Ethan Miller/Getty Images

During her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson found it difficult to perform her heartfelt love songs, particularly "Piece by Piece". Clarkson explained on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon that she was unsure if she wanted to sing about such personal emotions, as she had written the song during a different phase of her life.

Clarkson's 2015 release, "Piece by Piece," drew inspiration from her relationship with Blackstock and her own absent father. In the song, she expresses how he gradually pieced her back together, contrasting with the abandonment she experienced earlier in life. She sings, "Piece by piece, he collected me up / Off the ground, where you abandoned things, yeah." At just six years old, he filled the voids left by her absent father, healing the wounds created. Another verse further highlights his devotion, as she shares, "He never walks away / He never asks for money / He takes care of me / He loves me."

During her concert in Las Vegas on August 5th, Clarkson modified the lyrics, singing "I just walk away / when they ask for money / I take care of myself / 'cause I love myself" instead of the original "he." Clarkson later informed host Jimmy Fallon that her fans are now requesting a re-record of her updated rendition of "Piece by Piece."

Kelly Clarkson during an interview with Jimmy Fallon on October 13, 2023. Todd Owyoung/NBC

After Fallon praised it as a "healing version" of the track, she agreed wholeheartedly, affirming, "It's absolutely true." She revealed that she had actually rewritten the song just an hour before her performance in Vegas, realizing that she couldn't sing the original lyrics. However, she understood that her audience still wanted to hear the song, so she made the last-minute changes to accommodate that.

She went on to reflect on the experience, acknowledging that it had also affected her personally. She recognized the immense pressure she had placed on herself, expecting herself to mend the broken pieces of her past. Despite the intense emotions she grappled with that day, everything ultimately fell into place and worked out.

Clarkson initiated the divorce proceedings from Blackstock in June 2020, bringing an end to their seven-year marriage. As they battled in court, one of the key issues was the division of assets, particularly their Montana residence which he resided in, and the custody of their children: nine-year-old River Rose and seven-year-old Remington. Finally, in March 2022, the divorce was finalized, with Clarkson being granted primary custody of the children. As part of the settlement, she agreed to make a one-time payment of $1.3 million to Blackstock and provide him with $115,000 per month in spousal support until January 2024.

Throughout the challenging divorce process, Clarkson continued to host her successful daytime talk show, maintaining her professional commitments.

“I have to be honest, those last two seasons [of my talk show] were incredibly difficult behind the scenes," she stated on Friday. "Occasionally, you have to send someone in your place [to an event] because you simply can't make it. It's like, 'I just have to put on a facade and go along with it.' If I didn't, I would completely break down."

The Kelly Clarkson Show's fifth season, set to debut on Monday, October 15, will be filmed at New York City's iconic 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Clarkson's decision to relocate to the Big Apple with River Rose and Remy was driven by its proximity to her family.

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Brandon Blackstock

Kelly Clarkson