Kelly Clarkson and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, are headed to trial in August after a Los Angeles County judge ruled that the trial will focus on whether Blackstock violated California’s Talent Agencies Act by collecting fees on deals he helped broker for Clarkson. The law prohibits anyone other than licensed talent from taking commission on deals procured for professional artists. The trial, set for August 27, stems from an appeal Blackstock filed against a November 2023 ruling that awarded Clarkson $2.6 million, with the case getting a fresh look in state court.
Blackstock’s lawyers were hoping the trial would also focus on breach-of-contract allegations they filed against Clarkson in 2020 and on Clarkson’s personal finances to indicate that the commission fees were used to pay joint expenses and afford Clarkson a certain lifestyle. They argue that it is wrong to try to get money back from an ex-husband who helped manage Clarkson and provided for their children and lifestyle during their marriage.
The trial is expected to last at least five days and include live testimony from agents at Clarkson’s current agency, CAA. Blackstock claims that the agents were present when he allegedly spoke to an NBC executive who offered Clarkson a spot on The Voice, which he subsequently took a commission on when she became a judge for the show’s 14th season. Court filings indicate that a CAA agent testified that Blackstock was not asked to negotiate directly with the NBC executive, calling into question Blackstock’s claims.
Clarkson’s lawyer argued that if she prevails in the de novo trial, then Blackstock will not be able to pursue his additional claims, as they would nullify any management agreement and commissions owed. Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in May 2020 after seven years of marriage, and the two share two children together, River Rose and Remington.
The trial is anticipated to be a contentious legal battle over whether Blackstock improperly took commission on deals he brokered for Clarkson, with implications for the management agreement between the two parties. The case will ultimately be decided in August and has the potential to alter how future deals are handled between talent and management in the entertainment industry. Clarkson and Blackstock’s personal and financial histories will also likely be under scrutiny during the trial as both sides present their arguments and evidence to the court.
