Kelly Clarkson's ex Brandon Blackstock ordered to repay her $2.6M for unlawful business deals: Reports

Kelly Clarkson has won another legal battle in her divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

Blackstock was ordered by a California labor commissioner last week to repay the pop singer over $2.6 million in commissions for past business deals he procured for Clarkson as her manager, according to reports from People magazine and Billboard.

The deals Blackstock secured reportedly include $1.98 million for securing Clarkson's coaching role on NBC's reality singing competition "The Voice"; $208,125 for a promotional deal with Norweigan Cruise Lines; $450,000 for a collaboration with home décor brand Wayfair; and $93.30 for a multiyear contract to host the Billboard Music Awards.

Under California's Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager can't obtain – or attempt to obtain – employment for artists without a talent agency license, according to the outlets. Per the TAA, Clarkson's deals should have been conducted by the singer's agents at Creative Artists Agency.

USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Clarkson and Blackstock for comment.

Blackstock was not found in violation of the TAA for his work on a contract for “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” per People and Billboard, so he is not required to repay Clarkson commissions for the deal.

Clarkson and Blackstock’s divorce has been marked by legal battles, including a home-ownership battle over their Montana ranch, as well as a custody battle over their two children, daughter River Rose, 9, and son Remington, 7. Clarkson was awarded primary custody of the children in November 2020.

Clarkson and Blackstock reached a settlement in the Montana ranch case in January 2022 when a judge ruled in favor of Clarkson and Blackstock's property agreement, which gives Blackstock a 5% share of their Warren Peak Ranch property. It was previously ruled that Clarkson got to maintain ownership of the ranch, which is valued at approximately $17.8 million.

The court cited the couple's prenuptial agreement in rejecting Blackstock's earlier petition that the ranch, along with two other properties owned by Clarkson in the state, is marital property.

Clarkson filed for divorce in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage to Blackstock, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. The "Chemistry" singer opened up to USA TODAY about how the couple's divorce, which was finalized last year, partly inspired her recent move to New York City.

"I’ll be real honest: I thought I was making a horrible decision," the "Kelly Clarkson Show" host said in October. "I knew I needed a fresh start and couldn't be in LA. I really wanted to be in Montana, but you can't really do a show from there quite yet. So I was like, 'The only other option would probably be New York.'"

But after just a few weeks, she was sold on the city: "I genuinely love it, and I love that my kids love it."

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Contributing: Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY