Kelly Clarkson Legally Changes Her Name To Better ‘Reflect Who I Am’ | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Amanda Prestigiacomo.

    "American Song Contest" host Kelly Clarkson has legally changed her name, a move the singer said was done to better reflect who she is post-divorce.

    Clarkson will still go by Kelly Clarkson for work, but privately will go by Kelly Brianne, making her middle name her last name.

    "I just got divorced, so I had to drop my married last name," the 39 year old told People. "I just kept my middle name for my personal life. I'm still Kelly Clarkson."

    "I don't think I can change Clarkson at this point," she added. "I'm 20 years in!"

    In documents obtained by US Weekly, Clarkson said in February she had a "desire" to change her name because the new name "more fully reflects who I am."

    The "Because of You" singer became divorced from Brandon Blackstock last month, People reported:

    The former couple's divorce was finalized earlier this month, with Clarkson set to give her ex a one-time payment of just over $1.3 million. Clarkson will also pay Blackstock $45,601 in monthly child support for their two children, daughter River Rose, 7, and son Remington Alexander, 5, which started Feb. 1, per court documents obtained by The Blast.

    Clarkson officially filed for divorce in June 2020, after almost seven years of marriage to Blackstock, citing "irreconcilable differences."

    Sources have speculated that lockdown measures helped to tear away at the pair's marriage.

    "I mean, it's no secret. My life has been a little bit of a dumpster," she said in September 2020, US Weekly reported. "Personally, it's been a little hard the last couple of months. I've been talking to friends that have been through divorce. I don't know how people go through that without having some kind of outlet because it is the worst thing ever for everyone involved."

    The same month, Clarkson went on NBC's "Today" show and said the divorce was "so hard on everyone."

    "You can ask anyone who's gone through a divorce, I don't think anyone expects it," the "Stronger" singer said. "You see yourself growing old with someone and then life has a different path. It's so hard on everyone, and you know me, I'm really open. I try to be open and share. ... We all go through things. But at the same time, we have four kids total with each other. That's a lot of hearts involved, and you just have to be really careful. ... We're in the public eye so that's hard too, to try and be truthful but also keep your privacy."

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