Kelly Clarkson reflected on how she "was a mess" when everything was so brand-new.
While Kelly Clarkson's new normal of spending certain holidays apart from her children required adjustment, she discovered a bright spot: me time. On The Kelly Clarkson Show, the Grammy-winning singer and singer-songwriter Jewel, who is known for hit songs like Who Will Save Your Soul and You Were Meant For Me, chatted about co-parenting with their ex-husbands around the holidays on December 13, per TODAY.
The divorce between Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock, who have two children together (River Rose, age 8, and Remington Alexander, age 6), was finalized earlier this year. Jewel and Ty Murray got divorced in 2014, and the couple share 11-year-old Kase Townes together.
Both Jewel and Clarkson admitted that they had to learn to be ok with the fact that their ex-husbands had the kids for the holidays. "Single parenting is a big adjustment," said Jewel, adding, "It’s a trip to get used to being alone for a holiday like that and all my family are in Alaska."
Given that Blackstock wanted Thanksgiving and she wasn't really adamant about it, Clarkson, 40, shared that splitting up the holidays was simpler for her. "It’s not like my favorite holiday and it is for his family so I was like cool," she said. "It was so weird because you’ve always had a kid there and then all of a sudden you’re alone."
By spending it in themselves, Clarkson, 40, and Jewel, 48, claim they've learned to make better use of the time generally spent with their children. "At first it’s weird and then you’re like, 'OK. I can do things.' It’s kind of incredible. You do get a little me time," Clarkson said, chuckling. "It must be good preparation for empty nest syndrome," Jewel said in response. "It forces me to invest. I used to do things before I had a child. I suddenly seem to forget what I did. But you get better at it," she added.
Clarkson concurred and reflected on how she "was a mess" when everything was so brand-new. "But now, I’m like, it’s awesome," she said. "Absence does make the heart grow fonder."
Clarkson will reportedly pay her ex a very huge one-time payment of over $1.3 million, and will also shell out monthly child support payments of $45,601 for their two children, 7-year-old River and 5-year-old Remington. This payment started on February 1, 2022, according to court documents procured by TODAY at the time. River and Remington will reportedly live at Clarkson's residence in Los Angeles, but the couple has agreed to joint custody.
The ex-couple's "farm cattle, livestock, stock dogs, and horses," as well as many cars such as a Ford F-350, a Ford F-250, an ATV, and several CAT snowmobiles, will go to Blackstock. In addition, he'll leave with a golf simulator and a few Patek Philippe timepieces.
References:
https://www.today.com/parents/moms/kelly-clarkson-divorce-holidays-kids-rcna61650
Image Source: Getty Images | Kevin Winter
