Kelly Clarkson is grieving her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock after a “messy, painful” divorce from his years before his August death.

On August 7, reports emerged that the 48-year-old talent manager passed away from cancer, days after Clarkson revealed that she postponed her Las Vegas residency to spend time with their children, daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9, amid their father’s health battle.

“The divorce was incredibly difficult for her — messy, painful and something she felt terrible about,” a source told People. “But she always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad. She never spoke poorly about Brandon to the kids.”

Clarkson, 43, married Blackstock in 2013. After their marriage, Blackstock, who was already Blake Shelton’s manager, became Cl

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