Kelly Clarkson has reflected on divorcing her husband of almost seven years, Brandon Blackstock and says the decision "ripped her apart".
The Grammy-winning musician often shies away from discussing her personal life but in recent years has opened up about her personal struggles on her TV show.
Now, two years after she and Brandon decided to part ways, the 40-year-old musician has shed light on their decision and revealed they didn't make it lightly.
Speaking frankly on Angie Martinez's IRL podcast, she was asked what divorce "does to you" and her response shared a true insight into Kelly's utter heartbreak.
She said: "It rips you apart, whenever you fall in love with someone and it doesn't work.
"I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicised, and people thinking they know the whole thing, the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn't an overnight decision.
"Anyone that's been divorced knows that was years in trying to make, not make it work – I never wanted to be part of something to 'make it work'."
Kelly added: "I wanted to make it beautiful, I wanted to make it awesome, I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn't happen."
The couple became engaged in December 2012 after six years of dating before going on to marry in October of the same year.
Kelly revealed that she often makes time to check in on their two children, River, 8, and Remington, 6, following her divorce.
The Because of You singer explained: "Sometimes they'll say, especially the past two years, and it kills me and I want them to be honest, so I don't ever say, 'Oh god, don't tell me that,' but a lot of times it would be like, 'You know, I'm just really sad, I wish mommy and daddy were in the same house.'
"They're really honest about it, I'm raising that kind of individual."
Elsewhere, she explained that she's also from a divorced family so fully understands what their two children are currently going through.
Kelly admitted that she treats her children in a way to not allow them to feel like children but also not as adults so they can share what is on their minds in a mature manner.
The coach on The Voice initially filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their breakup.
The pair finalised their divorce in March 2022. She ditched her married surname shortly after the split was officially recognised.
