Kelly Clarkson has won her lawsuit against her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock after he procured a series of deals for her that have been deemed “unlawful”, reads documents sighted by People.
Blackstock, who acted as her manager, had arranged contracts for Clarkson, 41, with The Voice, The Kelly Clarkson Show, Norwegian Cruise Line, Wayfair and the Billboard Music Awards.
As per Billboard, California labor commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower decided in a November 21 ruling that Blackstock’s dealings violated California’s Talent Agencies Act (TAA), which bans anyone other than licensed talent agents from procuring work for artists.
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Blackstock, 46, was paid commissions of $1,983,155.70 (approx. $3.2m) for her deal as a coach on The Voice, $208,125 (approx. $314,863) for a promotional deal with NCL, and $450,000 (approx. $680,786) for a collaboration with Wayfair and $US 93.30 (approx. $140.79) for her multi-year contract as the Billboard Music Awards host.
His deal with The Kelly Clarkson Show did not count among these, but the other four deals were supposed to have been conducted by Clarkson’s team at Creative Artists Agency, the ruling decided.
All up, he must pay Clarkson back $2,641,374 (approx. $3,996,026).
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“Under the Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager, like any person without a talent agency license, cannot procure or attempt to procure employment for artists,” reads the ruling according to People.
Clarkson and Blackstock recently ended their seven year marriage after Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, which was finalised in 2022. They share two children, River Rose, nine, and son Remington “Remy” Alexander, seven.
The Since U Been Gone singer released her “divorce” album with songs all abut her split from Blackstock, adding that she gave him a heads up before releasing the album.
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“I don’t even remember why or how it happened, but I was like, ‘Hey, I didn’t just diminish us down to one [thing],'” she said on an appearance on the US Today show.
“You know what I’m saying? It’s all in there, the ride. The beauty is in there, as well. Now there’s a lot of pain, but that’s what happens for all of us,” she shrugged.