Kelly Clarkson Legally Changes Name To 'Kelly Brianne' Following Divorce, And Here's Why
Kelly Clarkson filed for a name change request earlier in February. At the time, she said that “Kelly Brianne” felt “more fully reflects” who she is.
But, it appears that there is more to the decision, as per Page Six. In the songstress’s recent interview with People (the TV Show!), she dwelled more into the details of her move to change her name legally.
Clarkson said that it has to do with her divorce from Brandon Blackstock, noting that she had to drop her married last name. She, then, stated that she kept her middle name, “Brianne,” for her “personal life” before adding that she is still “Kelly Clarkson.”
A court hearing regarding her name change request is set for March 28. She will be officially known as “Kelly Brianne" if all goes well.
Buzzfeed said that Kelly Clarkson’s full name is “Kelly Brianne Clarkson.” Hence, the petition she filed “effectively makes her middle name her last name.”
The “Since U Been Gone” singer, later on, shared in the same engagement that she does not think she can “change ‘Clarkson’ at this point, adding that she is “20 years in.”
With regard to the “bitter divorce” battle Kelly Clarkson has had with Brandon Blackstock, they reached a settlement earlier this month. The agreement states that the singer has the primary custody of their two children, aged seven and five.
The former talent manager, meanwhile, will share custody, having the two children one weekend a month. But, Clarkson will have to pay her now-former husband a monthly child support payment of $45,601, according to CNN.
She must, also, make a one-time payment to Blackstock, amounting to $1.3 million. Monthly spousal support of $115,000 is part of the divorce agreement, as well, although she will only need to fulfill it until January 2024.
Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson continues to move forward as she now focuses more on her children and career. A day after sharing the details about her name change request, she and Anne Hathaway made headlines after the latter stopped by “The Kelly Clarkson Show.”
People said that the “Les Miserables” actress beat the celebrity talk show host at her own game. In the “Sing That Name That Tune” segment of the show, Clarkson asked the host to play a song she would know, leading the band to play her own hit song, “Since U Been Gone.”
But, seconds in, Hathaway immediately figured it out and sang the chorus, allowing her to win the round.