Brandon Blackstock has been ordered to return millions of dollars in overcharged commission to his ex-wife, Kelly Clarkson, whom he managed while they were married.
A California labor commissioner ruled Thursday that Blackstock overcharged the Grammy winner by $2,641,374 when he represented her — a decision he is reportedly planning to appeal.
According to legal documents obtained by Pvnew but first viewed by TMZ, Blackstock was found to have acted unlawfully when he booked gigs and inked deals for his then-spouse on “The Voice,” Norwegian Cruise Lines, Wayfair and the Billboard Music Awards.
The labor commissioner states that only talent agents, not managers, can secure employment for their clients; however, there are a few exceptions.
Blackstock owes Clarkson $1,983,155.70 for her coaching role on “The Voice,” $208,125 for her collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Lines, $450,000 for her partnership with Wayfair and $93.30 after she thrice hosted the Billboard Music Awards.
The “American Idol” Season 1 winner wanted her ex-husband to cough up whatever percentage he pocketed after she scored her talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” but the labor commissioner ruled that money is his to keep.
Clarkson, 41, filed for divorce from Blackstock, 46, in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage.
Following a bitter battle over custody of their 9-year-old daughter, River Rose, their 7-year-old son, Remington “Remy” Alexander, and their shared Montana ranch, the former couple finally settled their divorce in March 2022.
Clarkson was granted primary custody of their children and got to keep the ranch.
Shortly after the split was finalized, the trio moved to New York City, which the musician said “helped” her get back on her feet.
“I think COVID pointed out a lot of things,” she explained in June of leaving both Los Angeles and Blackstock, adding, “A lot of us didn’t make it relationship-wise.”
Following the release of her cathartic album, “Chemistry,” Clarkson told her fans she was putting dating on the back burner.
“Do I have a boyfriend? No! And not looking. You know why? I love being single,” she shared with her Instagram followers in September.
“I have two kids, two dogs, three rabbits, a hamster, multiple jobs — there’s a lot going on,” she elaborated, adding that it’s “hard to start over” when “you think you’re going to spend the rest of your life with somebody, and you don’t.”
