Kelly Clarkson Admits Her 'Ego' Made Her Remain In 'Limiting' Marriage To Brandon Blackstock

Kelly Clarkson is sharing new details about her split from Brandon Blackstock and why it took so long to get a divorce from her ex-husband.

The sensational singer-songwriter needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous powerhouse vocalists. With numerous achievements and chart-topping songs, the blonde beauty can be described as G.O.A.T in the music industry.

Although she has a successful career, the 41-year-old could not achieve similar results in her intimate life. Pouring out her heart in a new interview, the entertainer got candid about what happened behind the doors of her matrimonial home.

During a recent appearance on the "We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle" podcast, the "Stronger" singer reflected on her relationship with the former talent manager. The songwriter shares two children with her ex-husband and opened up about why she tried so hard to make her marriage work. 

In Clarkson's new track "Mine," part of the emotional lyrics read: "I can't believe I stayed as long as I stayed." Although her post-breakup song did not shed light on what the Fort Worth native meant, the pop star gave fans the truth behind her words on the June 12 episode of Doyle's podcast.

According to the first season winner of "American Idol," her choice to stay married was influenced by her "ego" and the belief that she could fix the former couple's issues. In the TV personality's words:

"When you’re in it … I’m like, I can do this. I can handle so much. I can control my actions. I can control my reactions. I can do this, and I can reach this person, and I can get through. And it becomes a little bit of your ego that gets in the way."

Aside from her "ego," the 41-year-old wanted to create a different narrative for her two children. At a young age, the "Underneath the Tree" songstress was forced to grow up with divorced parents, an emotional turmoil she never wanted her kids to experience.

"If I'm being sincere, we don't want to do what we saw done," the doting parent confessed, adding that despite her desire to protect her children, she needed to prioritize her heart.

The blonde beauty acknowledged that she became "selfish" when she could no longer withstand her "limiting" marriage to Blackstock. However, the decision to leave was a complicated process for the 4-time AMA winner.

"You start never thinking about yourself, and that's honestly sometimes, to be selfish for me was very important because I'm never, I'm rarely selfish," the 41-year-old explained. "It's been beaten into me since childhood to have a servant's heart. It's tough to take that and go, 'I need this.'"

After accepting she needed a divorce, the "Catch My Breath" artist filed for separation in 2020, ending nearly seven years of marriage to Blackstock. Looking back, the Fort Worth native had no regrets as she discovered a better version of herself following the split.

"I can say that after [the divorce], I'm a far better mother. Because I think when you're honest with yourself, you're able to be honest with others," the blonde beauty raved.

Weeks earlier, the "Since U Been Gone" songstress discussed her post-breakup LP and how her ex-husband inspired the title. According to the 41-year-old, her upcoming tenth studio, "Chemistry," was about her connection to the talent mogul.

"I never really connected before my ex-husband. And I never connected with anybody like that. I'd never felt that," the entertainer confessed, citing Blackstock as the first person she felt uniquely connected to.

"That just kind of chemical … that level of just chemical reaction, I just never felt that, and I just remembered the first time we met, I was like, 'Woah.' I just felt something," the mother of two continued before noting that chemistry could be a blessing or a wrong decision.

The three-time Grammy winner explained that having poor chemistry was not the fault of those involved. Instead, the entertainer blamed the environment of their relationship. In Clarkson's words:

"It can go very poorly, chemistry. You can have amazing chemistry with somebody who you really shouldn’t be with, you know. Not that one person is good or bad, whatever. It’s just not a healthy environment."