Kelly Clarkson Finds Healing Through Lionel Richie's Wisdom

SINGER TELLS ALL: Kelly Clarkson Breaks Down on Live TV Over Grief, Shares How She's Coping with Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock's Tragic Passing

In a heart-wrenching episode of her eponymous daytime talk show, Kelly Clarkson opened up about the devastating loss of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, who passed away just two months ago after a three-and-a-half-year battle with skin cancer melanoma. The 43-year-old singer-turned-host welcomed music legend Lionel Richie, 76, on Thursday's program to promote his new memoir, Truly: An Inspirational Journey Through the Life of a Musical Legend.

As they chatted about grief and how to cope with it, Kelly and Lionel shared some surprisingly candid moments that left viewers in tears. The conversation began when Kelly referenced a line from Lionel's book, which stated, "Grief is the great teacher of what matters most." She shared her own thoughts on the matter, saying, "I think, no matter how you deal with grief, it is very different for everyone. But I do find that very, very true."

Kelly then asked Lionel to share his insights on how he deals with grief. The legendary singer explained, "It's a real moment where you can't phone it in, but at the same time, we rehearse things. You can't rehearse grief." He elaborated, "You can't rehearse the loss of your mother or your father or a friend. You can't rehearse that."

The conversation took an emotional turn when Kelly revealed how she's been coping with her ex-husband's passing. The mother-of-two shared that she feels like she's been hit by grief in waves, saying, "It hits you so hard, and it's just this overwhelming feeling of loss." Lionel responded with words of wisdom, saying, "If you hurt so badly, that means you loved so deeply."

But what really got Kelly emotional was when Lionel added, "What I found is that when I get involved with the word 'uncontrollable' grief, I let go. Believe it or not, I look forward to finding out who am I going to be, really [because] that's the real me." His words struck a chord with Kelly, and she couldn't help but break down in tears.

In a surprising move, Lionel playfully "exorcised" Kelly from her grief by placing his hand on her forehead and jokingly saying, "Hold on, I can save you, don't worry!" Kelly laughed and responded, "I feel healed." The two shared a heartfelt moment of connection that left viewers feeling like they were witnessing something truly special.

The conversation was a poignant reminder of the impact that Lionel's book has had on his fans. As one Instagram caption promoting the episode read, "Lionel Richie life wisdom is #Truly taking us to church!" The post garnered thousands of comments and shares from fans who are clearly inspired by the legendary singer's words.

But for Kelly Clarkson, this conversation was more than just a promotional opportunity – it was a much-needed chance to process her emotions and share her grief with her audience. As she shared earlier in the episode, "I do think a lot of people deal with grief in such a different way, but I love that you say, 'Grief is the great teacher of what matters most.'"

Kelly's ex-husband Brandon Blackstock passed away on August 7 after a long battle with skin cancer melanoma. A statement from his family confirmed the news, saying, "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family."

Just days before Brandon's passing, Kelly shared a heartfelt message on social media about her struggles to balance work and family life while her ex-husband was ill. She wrote, "Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas. While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them."

The couple married in 2013 but split in 2020 before finalizing their divorce in 2022. Despite their breakup, Kelly has always spoken highly of her ex-husband and the impact he had on her life. Now, as she navigates the complexities of grief, it's clear that Brandon will always be a part of her story.

In conclusion, this emotional episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show was more than just a conversation about grief – it was a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection and the impact that our loved ones have on our lives. As Lionel Richie so eloquently put it, "Grief is the great teacher of what matters most."