Kelly Clarkson’s Love Life Still Plagued By ‘Overwhelming’ Schedule

Singer Kelly Clarkson may be walking away from “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” but that doesn’t mean that she’s walking away from the entertainment industry. Following the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, the “Stronger” singer recognizes that she needs to spend time with her two young children. Although she is putting family first, she is trying to find a balance between her personal life and her career.

As The Blast previously reported, the “Behind These Hazel Eyes” singer is leaving her talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” after seven seasons. Clarkson delivered the news in an emotional Instagram post on February 2, thanking her fans for “allowing our show to be a part of your lives” and emphasizing that it wasn’t “easy” to walk away.

“This was not an easy decision,” she wrote at the time. “Stepping away from the daily schedule will allow me to prioritize my kids, which feels necessary and right for this next chapter of our lives.” She went on to write, “I want to thank y’all so much for allowing our show to be a part of your lives.”

Last summer, Clarkson’s ex-husband, music manager Brandon Blackson, passed away at age 48 after a 3-year battle with cancer. The loss was particularly difficult for their daughter, River, 11, and their son, Remington, 9.

Although she will still appear on season 29 of “The Voice,” which premieres on February 23, Clarkson wants to focus on her family and perhaps even find love again. One insider told Us Weekly that she is slowly opening herself up to dating again.

“Kelly’s been through so much in her life, and she just pushes on,” the source divulged. “A lot of that comes from her selfless nature. She has people who depend on her, and she puts them first.”

Many fans don’t realize how much work went into the show behind the scenes, especially considering her fan-favorite Kellyoke performances. While they were enjoyed by fans, many failed to notice that Clarkson was struggling to keep up with the demanding workload behind the scenes.

“Kelly didn’t realize how all-consuming the show would be,” a second source told the publication. “It’s her entire life.”

The source went on to say that she was “surprised” by how successful the show went on to be, as it won 24 Daytime Emmy Awards during its seven-year run. In addition, she interviewed some high-profile figures, including political figures like Hillary Clinton and Jill Biden, as well as actresses like Meg Ryan and Viola Davis, on her show.

 The insider added, “The talk show became more than she initially bargained for, and left her with little time to pursue anything else.”

The source added that the “A Moment Like This” singer is looking forward to releasing new music.

“Kelly asked herself, ‘Do I want to spend the rest of my life doing this?’ She wants to focus on things that she really loves,” the source shared. In addition to returning to music, they noted that she is also very busy with her Kelly Clarkson Home furniture and home décor line.

“When [Kelly leaves the show], she can split her time between live performances and her merchandising deals and take a step back,” they added.

Even though she’s made a lot of friends within the music industry, she keeps a close circle. “Kelly’s a real homebody,” the first source added. “When she isn’t working, which is rare, she likes to be home, watching movies, and hanging out. That’s how she unwinds.”

However, she is also open to dating when the time is right. “Kelly would love to have a partner, and she will when the time is right,” the insider continued. “She has so much on her shoulders, and it does get overwhelming, and it’s nice to have someone to lean on. But I can’t imagine her bringing someone into their lives right now.”

However, that doesn’t mean she plans to get married again. “Kelly jokes she never wanted to get married the first time around,” the source revealed. “And she’s pretty open about how badly her divorce affected her.”