Why Kelly Clarkson Is “Hesitant” to Date After Brandon Blackstock Divorce

What doesn't kill Kelly Clarkson certainly makes her stronger.

That said, after finalizing her divorce from ex Brandon Blackstock in March 2022, the talk show host revealed she's in no rush to jump back into the dating game.

"I haven't even thought about it," Kelly told E! News in an exclusive interview. "Not that I'm against it. I'm not like bitter or, ‘Oh, I'm still broken.' I'm not mad at all. I'm very happy. I'm in a great place. But you know, I've lost a bit of me, like in my previous relationship and I love having her back."
 
In fact, the singer—who shares daughter River, 9, and son Remington, 7, with the music manager—is more than comfortable being Miss Independent.
 
"I'm just enjoying me and I'm enjoying my children and I'm enjoying my work," she shared. "I love what I'm doing right now. And I am a little hesitant, because stepparent situations aren't always great for everyone, or even having another person involved."

As she explained, "It's already confusing enough sometimes, like your parents living in different places, and divorce can be hard on kids. So, I'm honestly not looking at all."
 
But that doesn't mean she's completely closed off to the idea of love.
 
"If something were to happen, I'd say, ‘Oh I'm interested, I'd do it," Kelly noted. "But I'm just not looking."

For Kelly, being a "mama bear" simply comes first. "I focus on them," the 41-year-old added. "And that can come later."
 
Besides, the American Idol alum has had more than enough on her plate including working on her upcoming album Chemistry and its accompanying Las Vegas residency. It's a project that she noted was detrimental to her process.

"Writing is healing for me," she explained. "I know it's like art for everybody else. And they're receiving it however they want to, but for me, it was really getting through just really hard times. It was more of a necessity for me."
 
Kelly's album Chemistry drops on June 23 and her Vegas residency Chemistry: An Intimate Evening runs from July 28 to August 19.
 
—Reporting by Adam Havener