Kelly Clarkson wants her divorce proceedings to move along as quickly as possible.
The singer has requested a judge to declare her legally divorced from estranged husband Brandon Blackstock because they "both deserve the opportunity to build a new life," according to court documents filed Thursday and obtained by People.
Other arrangements such as spousal and child support will be left to a later date.
Clarkson filed for divorce in June 2020, after seven years of marriage, citing "irreconcilable differences." In November, she was granted primary physical custody of their children River Rose, 6, and Remington Alexander, 4. It was later reported that Blackstock was seeking $436,000 in monthly spousal and child support.
"Brandon's been equally unreasonable in his requests for child and spousal support, as well as attorney fees," a source previously told People. "Kelly's offered to pay for all the kids' expenses, but Brandon seems to think he is entitled to and needs $301K in spousal support and $135K in child support per month."
Blackstock is additionally seeking a hefty amount to cover attorney costs, the insider claimed.
"Additionally, he's already asked for $2 million for attorney fees when he's the one driving up the cost of the divorce with seven attorneys just representing him alone."
A second source added that Clarkson was "pleased" with the custody ruling. Her priority now is to protect her children amid the divorce battle.
"As Kelly has said, her first priority in all of this is to take care of the kids and all the hearts that are involved in this divorce," the insider said. "It's been a hard time for everyone, but Kelly's pleased with the court's ruling regarding custody."
In December, Clarkson opened up about the divorce while chatting with author Glennon Doyle on an episode of "The Kelly Clarkson Show."
"The hardest for me is the kids," she admitted, according to Billboard. "I think, as women especially, we're trained to take it all on and deal with it and you're fine. But it's your babies that you worry about."
The kids, Clarkson said, were what motivated her to finally ask for the divorce.
"We've all been trained to believe a good mother is a liar. I didn't leave a marriage in spite of being a good mother; I left because I am a good mother," she said, adding that the split was also best for her and Blackstock.
"I'm like, 'This isn't happiness, for both of us, you know? I feel both of us deserve better, and neither one of us would want this for our children.'"
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Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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