Kelly Clarkson Avoids Dating for Her Children After Brandon Blackstock's Death Kelly Clarkson says she is staying away from dating to protect her two children after their father Brandon Blackstock died from skin cancer at age 48. Kelly Clarkson, 44, has revealed that she is staying away from the dating scene out of consideration for her two young children following the death of their father, Brandon Blackstock. She made the disclosure this week on an episode of Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers podcast Las Culturistas. Clarkson said her children are her priority and that introducing a new man into their lives would be too disruptive right now. Family Loss and Its AftermathClarkson married Brandon Blackstock in 2013. Together they had a daughter, River, now 12, and a son, Remington, now 10. Blackstock became Clarkson manager before their marriage collapsed in 2020, leading to a bitter and protracted legal battle. Their divorce was finalized in 2022. Blackstock died last August at the age of 48 after a secret battle with skin cancer. Clarkson attended his funeral.In the year since his death, Clarkson has focused on supporting her children through their grief. A source told Page Six that losing a parent at such a young age is something no child should have to go through, and that Clarkson has done everything she can to be there for River and Remy. The insider said her focus has been making sure they feel loved, supported and as stable as possible while giving them the space to grieve in their own way.Clarkson on Dating and PrioritiesOn the podcast, Clarkson explained why she is not dating. She said her kids would be rocked by a new relationship and that there is a lot behind that decision. She also said she loves her life right now and is not exhausted at every point of it.Clarkson noted that if you are going to be in a relationship, you have to be willing to give up some of your time, and she is unwilling to do that at this stage. She added that this is not a bulls--- answer and that she genuinely enjoys her current life. The American Idol alumna also mentioned that her daytime talk show aired its final episode at the end of August.Career and Personal Life Moving ForwardClarkson developed a different perspective in the year since Blackstock death. The source said she still has moments that are incredibly hard, but she is in a much better place than during the divorce years. She is excited to be making music again, having fun with her residency, and returning to The Voice, which allows her to keep doing what she loves while being the kind of mom she wants to be.Ending her daytime series, The Kelly Clarkson Show, was not an easy decision because she genuinely loved it, but it gave her the time and flexibility to put her family first. In the wake of Blackstock death, it emerged in his obituary that he had struck up a romance with Clarkson ex-assistant, Brittney Marie Jones. Jones and Blackstock had settled into a quiet life in Butte, Montana, living in the mountains and running a rodeo in the nearby tourist destination Bozeman. His obituary read that after more than 20 years in the music business, Brandon found his way back to the mountains and the cowboy way of life he always wanted to live.Blackstock divorce from Clarkson involved a rancorous legal wrangle over custody, finances and their $17.7 million Montana ranch. Clarkson ultimately obtained primary custody of Remington and River and moved with them to New York City from Los Angeles. She was ordered to pay Blackstock a lump sum of $1.3 million, plus $115,000 in monthly alimony until January 31, 2024, and $45,000 in monthly child support until their children reached their majority. Meanwhile, Clarkson sued Blackstock for allegedly making unauthorized deals on her behalf, and he was ultimately ordered to reimburse her $2.6 million.