Kelly Clarkson Clarifies Name Change: “I Don’t Think I Can Change Clarkson at this Point”
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal Reading Time: 2 minutes
Kelly Clarkson shared that her iconic name isn’t going anywhere following her divorce from Brandon Blackstock. Although the American Song Contest host filed court documents requesting to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne, she clarified that her public name will remain Kelly Clarkson.
Clarkson confirms that her name will remain the same in all avenues related to her career following the premiere of American Song Contest on NBC. The “Since U Been Gone” singer confirmed that her name change request is a result of her recently settled divorce. She’s been known publicly with the last name Clarkson since winning the first season of American Idol in 2002.
“I just got divorced so I had to drop my married last name, so I just left my middle name for my personal life,” Clarkson told People. “I’m still Kelly Clarkson. I don’t think I can change Clarkson at this point, I’m 20 years in.”
Clarkson filed court documents requesting to legally change her name to Kelly Brianne. Brianne is the singer’s middle name. The court hearing regarding her name change is scheduled for March 28. If approved, Clarkson would go by Kelly Brianne in her personal life.
Regardless of if the singer gets approval or not, there will be no change in the public eye. Her name will still be Kelly Clarkson in regard to all avenues of her career. Her talk show name will not change, her name in credits will not change, etc. Fans will still refer to her as Kelly Clarkson.
Why is Kelly Clarkson Changing her Name?
Clarkson has filed to legally change her name following her recently settle divorce from Blackstock. The couple originally began their split in 2020, but recently settled their divorce after clashing over their prenuptial agreement. Clarkson has agreed to give her ex-husband a one-time, tax-free payment of over $1.3 million, in addition to month child support as well as spousal support. The couple has joint custody of their children, River Rose and Remington Alexander, but both children currently reside with Clarkson.
Clarkson’s request to be declared legally single was approved by a judge in September 2021. When Clarkson requested to be legally single, she also requested that the court restore her legal name from Kelly Blackstock back to Kelly Clarkson. Since the singer worked to cut ties quickly from her ex-husband, many believe that her 2022 name change was an extension of that. When filing for the name change, documents state that the singer stated this name fully reflects who she is.
