Kelly Clarkson Reveals Daughter, 8 Is Battling Bullies, Gets Choked Up On TV

Kelly Clarkson is expressing heartbreak as a mom, knowing her daughter is bullied at school for her disability.

The bold-voiced singer shared on her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, that her 8-year-old daughter River Rose is having a tough time at school. Her peers are bullying her because she has dyslexia.

Her guest Henry Winkler was there to lend an ear for her to share her story with; he, too, battles dyslexia. “I was driving my daughter to school yesterday, and she has dyslexia,” began Clarkson. “You have told me that you have dyslexia as well - I find that amazing to tell my daughter that you've written, like, 40 books, and you have dyslexia,” she says in awe.

Clarkson then revealed that River is “getting bullied” for her battle with the learning disability. The proud mama had to pause and reach for a Kleenex to dab at tears. The kids in her class noticed her “inability to read” at the same pace.

The mom of two tried to boost her daughter’s confidence by sharing that she isn’t the only one dealing with dyslexia. Many notable people like Anthony Mackie and Zachary Levi also deal with it daily.

“It empowered her that y’all are so open about it,” she said of the knowledge's effect on her daughter. Winkler welcomed River into the “dyslexia club” with open arms. “She's part of the tribe,” he brags.

The actor looked straight into the camera and gave River more encouragement. “River! How you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are.” Yes, period! Clarkson couldn’t agree more, and the tears streaming down her face showed it.

She says she “didn't know how common” dyslexia is in minors. Clarkson joked to lighten the mood, “My makeup artist is going to kill me.”

After seven years of marriage, the singer divorced her ex-husband and former manager, Brandon Blackstock. While she shared that the situation has been rough, she is happy to put it all behind her to show her kids a new normal.

She and Blackstock took their kids on vacation just after the split. In addition to River, they share a son, Remington Alexander, seven. “It's been a rough couple of years, so I had to shut down for a minute. The kids were with their dad and me,” she said on the Today Show after returning from the family trip.

“It was nice because they usually have to travel a lot because of our separation,” she admits. “So we were both in Montana, so it was the first time I think my kids felt more centered.” The episode was fun, with Clarkson shedding a few more happy tears before the end of the segment with Winkler.