Kelly Clarkson is stepping back from her professional commitments to focus on her family during a challenging time.
On Wednesday, August 6, the singer announced that her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, has been ill, prompting her to postpone the remaining dates of her Las Vegas residency. Clarkson shared the news on Instagram, explaining her decision to prioritize their two children, River (10) and Remington (8).
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” she wrote.
She continued, “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them. I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”
A representative for Blackstock did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Clarkson and Blackstock were married for seven years before separating in June 2020. During their marriage, they welcomed two children: daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander. Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, and it was finalized two years later.
In a January 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Clarkson opened up about the emotional toll of the divorce, describing it as “extraordinarily hard.”
“You feel alone, and it’s just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming,” she said, referring to her album Chemistry.
More recently, during a March 27 appearance on the Not Gonna Lie podcast hosted by Kylie Kelce, Clarkson made rare public comments about Blackstock and highlighted the disparities she sees between working mothers and fathers.
“There’s a lot that I keep in because … co-parenting is fun,” she said wryly. “It’s like, ‘Oh, he couldn’t come because this,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, cool.’ Do you think I just leave and just sit in the park all day?”
