Kelly Clarkson reflects on life post-divorce and possibly dating again: 'You never know about love'
Kelly Clarkson is opening up about, and looking back, on life and parenting after divorce.
The singer, producer and host of The Kelly Clarkson Show recently sat down for radio host Delilah's podcast, Love Someone with Delilah, where she spoke candidly about heartache and making difficult choices in life.
"I regret nothing," the singer said. "Even the unfortunate things that happen in your life, or hard things, because we can do hard things ... But also, I feel like that's what shapes you and it's what makes you a better person, and what makes you recognize, OK, I missed those red flags."
In fact, she's missed so many red flags in her past relationships she jokes that she almost called her latest album Red Flag Collector. Instead, she settled for When Christmas Comes Around, her ninth studio album which was released in October.
"[Red flags] are not only for other people, but also yourself. You don't recognize things in yourself," said Clarkson, whose "horrible" divorce from estranged husband, Brandon Blackstock, was finalized in August.
Even though she's been "divorced for a minute but separated for well over a year," Clarkson says people are obsessed with setting her up. These days, however, she's following her own advice and paying attention to red flags, and that includes within herself.
"I've already had people be like, 'Let me know when you wanna date,' and it's like, you know what? I don't think you have to have someone with you all the time," she explains. "Like, I really do enjoy my work, my kids, my creative self, that sometimes I got stifled. In relationships, it's hard to be as creative as I can because I wear my heart on my sleeve. ... I think we're engineered, especially where I'm from [in Texas], to have to have that. And I don't have that need."
Though she admits she wants to get married again one day, Clarkson says she's fighting the impulse to rush into relationships. Her new attitude is: "You never know about love."
"I'm not one of those people to poo-poo on what was because what was is what got me here," she explained. "I'm so happy I have writing and I'm so happy that I have music because that's my outlet. That's how I get through it. That's how I figure out what’s happening, and man, not having that, I don't know how I would have done that."
In addition to her creative outlet, she also has her kids: daughter River Rose, 7; and Remington "Remy" Alexander, 5. She was granted primary custody of both children in November 2020.
"It's so funny because they can be, and they are, the most magical little beings and I feel super blessed," Clarkson said, adding that she "never even wanted children, so this was a different path than I thought my life would be." Now, she "can't imagine" life without her little ones.
"They're just so important," she explained. "They're so cool and it's such a blessing and responsibility to be able to help mold these little creatures, but at the same time, oh girl, they can be demons."
The proud momma went on to say that the top three things she wants to instill in her kids are also the most important to know in life: Be kind, be loving, and be respectful.
"My big thing with anybody that surrounds my children, whether it be teachers, nannies, people I work with, anyone around them, I'm like, 'Don't let them get away with being unkind or unlovely,'" she explained. "That is what I will not tolerate.
"You don't have to be the smartest kid in the class. You don't have to be the most talented. You don't have to be all those things, but kind and loving and respectful, that's a dealbreaker. Like, you gotta have that."
Clarkson says that's something she works on with her kids.
"I'm like, look, you gotta be kind at the end of the day. And I tell them if I found out that you're doing something, like, if you're mean to someone at school, whatever you do to that person I'm definitely going to be doing to you!"
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