Kelly Clarkson Opens Up About Her Divorce From Brandon Blackstock On Her New Album: ‘I Had To Get Past It In Order To Talk About It’

Kelly Clarkson just gave more details about her long-awaited new album on her talk show, and explained to fans that it was greatly inspired by her tumultuous divorce from ex Brandon Blackstock.

In an emotional video posted to the official Kelly Clarkson Show Instagram account last week, the host, 40, told viewers that they can expect her album to arrive this year.

While Clarkson seemed excited about the news, she also stressed that it took a long time to create the record as she needed to heal from her split before writing new music.

READ MORE: Fans Are Showing Support After Kelly Clarkson Reveals The ‘Hardest’ Part Of Divorce Process

“I have an album coming out this year — I swear,” Clarkson began in the clip. “I know I’ve been talking about it, but look — I’m going to be really honest with you … it took a minute for me to be able to release this album. Because I just had to be over it, through it, like all around it.”

The Grammy winner continued, “I had to get past it in order to talk about it, because I know people want to ask me about the album and songs and I just feel like … I needed a minute … so, it’s like, it’s really cool. And it’s a great arc of like a whole relationship. So, it’s not all sad or mad, but … that’s in there.”

Clarkson‘s divorce from music manager Blackstock, 46, was settled back in March 2022. The former couple wed in 2013 and were together until June 2020. They share two children: son Remington Alexander, 6, and daughter River Rose, 8.

During her talk show’s 2020 season premiere, Clarkson revealed to viewers that she “didn’t see” her divorce coming and has been open about her healing journey ever since.

In a September 2022 interview with Variety, Clarkson also hinted at what hew upcoming record will sound like. “I hadn’t really been working hardcore on an album until I needed to,” the American Idol alum said.

“I was just very busy … But then the whole divorce thing happened, and I needed to write it … I didn’t know if I was going to release it, because you can be very angry in that state of mind. So, some of the songs, they definitely cover the gamut of emotions; there’s everything on the album.”

Last June, she released a highly streamed cover EP, Kellyoke, and also pleased fans with collaborations with fellow former Voice coach Ariana Grande and another with Dolly Parton.