Kelly Clarkson, whose real name is Kelly Brianne, is an accomplished American singer, songwriter, and television personality, born on April 24, 1982, in Fort Worth, Texas. Rising to fame as the inaugural winner of the reality TV show “American Idol” in 2002, she quickly captured the hearts of millions with her powerful and soulful vocals. Clarkson’s debut single, “A Moment Like This,” topped the charts and set the stage for her successful music career.
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Over the years, she released numerous chart-topping albums, earning her critical acclaim and multiple Grammy Awards. Her signature blend of pop and rock influences, combined with heartfelt lyrics, resonated with a diverse audience. Beyond music, Clarkson showcased her warm and relatable personality as a coach on “The Voice” and her talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
With an unwavering dedication to her craft and a genuine connection to her fans, Kelly Clarkson remains an enduring and influential figure in the entertainment industry. However, along with her fame, there also arose rumors about her sexuality. Some fans started assuming that she might be queer.
Well, is she? Is Kelly Clarkson gay? Let’s get to know her better for the answer.
VOTE: What is Kelly Clarkson’s Sexuality?
Kelly Clarkson’s Sexuality Examined
There have always been rumors about Kelly Clarkson’s sexuality, with some speculating that she might be gay. Way back in 2009, the American Idol winner addressed the rumors by stating that she was not a lesbian but admitted to occasionally wishing she was, saying, “often times men are very hard for me.”
The singer also informed AOL’s pop culture news site, PopEater.com, that she had grown accustomed to being asked if she was gay.
Lesbians tell it to me all the time. I’m like, ‘I’m glad it works for you and I wish I liked women like that because often times men are very hard for me, but I happen to like boys.’”
Kelly Clarkson said
I could never be a lesbian. I would never want to date (someone like) myself, ever. I’m a crazy person. I need some kind of stable, quiet man.”
she added
Back then, the double Grammy winner admitted to never having been in love before. People would tell her it was odd, but she had told them that her priority was her career.
I recently got back from this European promo tour…and every interview kept focusing on that…. I’m like ‘Well, maybe ya’ll just fall in love too quickly. Have you ever thought about that?’”
Clarkson told PopEater.com, 2009
I was like ‘I don’t think its very odd. I’m 26 years-old,’ and I just think I’d rather have quality than quantity.”
she added
How insulting to the lesbian community that you think I’m a lesbian just because I’m single.”
Clarkson said in a separate interview
The gay rumors hadn’t died, even after she got married, so in 2016, the American Idol winner addressed them again. She stated that in her younger years, she had always been assumed to be gay just because she wasn’t married and didn’t have kids yet. But she believed that marrying in your 20s was not a good idea because those years are about growth and making mistakes.
I’m from a small town in the South. Everyone thought I was gay because I wasn’t married with kids already! And I was like, ‘That’s kind of insulting to the gay community!’ But, especially in this day and age, I had a very high bar.”
Clarkson said during a luncheon for Good Housekeeping in 2016
I think the biggest thing is just getting married later in life. You change so much in your twenties. I mean, [my husband] got married at 21 in his first marriage, and they both went, ‘What?!’ It can be very hard to grow in the same way. Your 20s are all about growth and giant [mistakes].”
she added
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At the time of the interview, she was married to her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
The singer also revealed that there was a time when she thought she might be asexual, simply because she was not attracted to anyone.
For the longest time… I thought I was asexual. I’m not attracted to anyone. For the longest time I just wasn’t, and I think it’s because I’m highly focused and career-driven.”
Clarkson said in a more recent interview
Kelly Clarkson’s Relationships
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock (2006 – 2020)
The Voice coach was married to Brandon Blackstock for nearly seven years before they went their separate ways in 2020.
The pair met at the rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006. They dated and got engaged in December 2012 and tied the knot in October the following year. They have two children — daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington Alexander, 6. Blackstock has two other children from his previous marriage with Melissa Ashworth — a son named Seth and a daughter named Savannah.
In a previous interview, Clarkson shared that she knew she was going to end up with him the moment she first saw him.
I’ve only had three other boyfriends that I dated, and not really seriously. This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, ‘I’m gonna end up with him. I know it.'”
Kelly Clarkson told PEOPLE in 2013
Literally, I’m not joking, he walked past us at that time. And he walked by, I was ready to take it all off. I just felt something.”
she added
They had their first date on February 11, 2012, the same day Clarkson’s idol Whitney Houston died, so she thought it was a bad omen.
This is the funniest/worst thing ever: One of my superhero idols is Whitney Houston, and the day she died was our first date. I was like, ‘This is a bad omen.'”
Clarkson shared
The couple got engaged on December 14, 2012, and the singer was excited to share it on Twitter.
I’M ENGAGED!!!!! I wanted y’all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.”
Clarkson tweeted, 2012
They tied the knot on October 20, 2013, and Clarkson shared the good news with her millions of fans by tweeting:
I’m officially Mrs. Blackstock 🙂 We got married yesterday at Blackberry Farms in TN, the most beautiful place ever!”
On June 12, 2014, they welcomed their first baby, River Rose, and on April 12, 2016, their second baby, Remington Alexander, was born.
After almost seven years of marriage, Clarkson filed for divorce in June 2020, citing irreconcilable differences, and it was finalized two years later.
During her divorce, the singer shared that the well-being of her kids was her top priority.
The thing that’s been kind of hard to navigate is I am an open book, but at some point, I’m a mama bear more than I am a person in the public eye. So I care 100 percent more about my children than I do anything else on this planet.”
Clarkson said
So that’s been the hard thing of, yes, I’m willing to share my experience and, yes, it is the worst. The past few months have been horribly sad. But at the same time, I have to think, ‘Hmmm, what I say has a domino effect in other people’s lives.'”
she added
Aside from her failed marriage with Blackstock, the American Idol winner was also rumored to have dated singer Ryan Key of Yellowcard in 2006.
She was also in a relationship with Graham Colton in 2005, but the romance was brief.
Clarkson also confirmed in an interview with Andy Cohen that she dated American Idol co-alum, Justin Guarini, for “a little bit” around 2003 when they were filming “From Justin To Kelly.”
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Is Kelly Clarkson Gay?
No, Kelly Clarkson is not gay, although she admitted that there were times she wished she were a lesbian. But no, the American Idol winner identifies herself as straight and has only been in heterosexual relationships in the past. She was married to her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, for almost seven years, and they share two kids together.