Kelly Clarkson has admitted that she has been suffering from crippling depression that was so bad she has had to go to therapy.
The 41-year-old talk show host shared her mental health update with the latest issue of People on Wednesday.
Turns out she was in a dark place after divorcing Brandon Blackstock, with whom she has two children, and it has lingered for seven years. Another thing that gets her through the dark times: her music.
‘The level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard,’ she told the outlet.
‘You feel alone, and it’s just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming.’
Working on her song Chemistry helped her heal.
‘I didn’t see it other than: This is my outlet. I’m a let-go person; I don’t hold grudges. So it was really delving into what happened in my life and why—and what am I going to do about it?’ she admitted.
‘I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet.’
Coming out with the new music made her feel like she was ‘taking my power back,’ Clarkson added.
‘That sounds very therapy, but that’s because I love therapy, and I think it’s important to have those tools to navigate your life and relationships.’
Moving to New York City from Los Angeles for season five of her show also helped her feel better as she said she just needed a change.
She also talked her kids River Rose, 9, and son Remington Alexander, 7.
She was thrilled when her kids joined her onstage at her Las Vegas residency in August.
‘They were a little nervous, but it was their idea, not mine,’ Clarkson said.
River did a duet of her mom’s single Heartbeat Song.
Remington danced to Whole Lotta Woman.
She was thrilled then seemed into her being a star on stage: ‘I was like, “I feel like how you’re looking at me is how you watch Spider-Man,”‘ Clarkson shared.
‘It caught me completely off guard, and it was the most magical moment because they were so happy and at ease. They were just in awe.’
Her career is doing better than ever.
Her latest album Chemistry is nominated for best pop vocal album at the Grammys. And her talk show landed six wins at the Daytime Emmy Awards — including outstanding daytime talk series and host for Clarkson.
Then there is the Vegas residency, which added more shows through the winter.
This week’s People will hit newsstands on Friday.
This comes just as Clarkson has accused her ex Blackstock of telling her she was not sexy enough for The Voice.
Kelly made the claims to a California labour commissioner last year, who eventually ruled that Brandon, 47, owed Kelly $2.6 million for unlawfully making deals that should have been handled by her talent agents.
And, in documents obtained by the New York Post’s Page Six, Kelly claimed that even though she told Brandon about her wish to be a coach on The Voice’ he insisted that they were ‘looking for a more sex symbol type’ such as Rihanna.
When asked by her lawyer Ed McPherson how she was able to recall the specific conversation, Kelly said, ‘Well, a wife doesn’t forget a time she gets told she’s not a sex symbol, so that stays.’
She also alleged that Brandon told her NBC ‘had to have someone that was Black. … They had to have a diverse thing’ and that she and Blake Shelton — who was already on the show — ‘were too similar’.
Despite Brandon’s assertions, Kelly joined The Voice as a coach in 2018.
He testified in court that he was encouraged by two CAA music agents to tell NBC that Kelly was already in talks with ABC to become a judge on ‘American Idol’, where she first found fame.
He alleged that they encouraged him to meet with NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy, claiming Telegdy did not like agents.
Brandon’s lawyers Bryan Freedman and Jesse Kaplan said in a court document: ‘Critically and consistent with their negotiation strategy, Blackstock informed Telegdy that American Idol would be submitting an offer to Clarkson.
‘In response, Telegdy asked Blackstock, ‘What would it take [to sign Kelly to The Voice]?’ Brandon – who also managed Blake Shelton – told Telegdy that it would be ‘somewhere around Blake’s money’.
Carol Dennis is an entertainment aficionado with an eye for all things pop culture. She dives into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, from movie premieres to music festivals. Carol’s passion for storytelling extends beyond her reporting, as she’s an aspiring screenwriter in her free time.
