You’ve seen her belt out high notes that would shatter glass and watched her charm every A-list guest on her talk show couch, but when the cameras click off, Kelly Clarkson is just a "mama bear." Honestly, if you follow her at all, you know her world basically revolves around her kids. But between a very public divorce and the tragic news regarding her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, in late 2025, there’s been a lot of chatter—and a bit of confusion—about her family life.
So, let’s clear the air. Kelly Clarkson has two biological children.
That’s the short answer. But like anything in Kelly’s life, the full story is a lot more layered, involving stepkids, a massive cross-country move to New York City, and some serious resilience.
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The Two Kids at the Center of Her World
If you’re looking for names and ages, here is the current 2026 breakdown. Kelly shares a daughter and a son with her late ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
- River Rose Blackstock: Born June 12, 2014. She’s currently 11 years old.
- Remington "Remy" Alexander Blackstock: Born April 12, 2016. He’s 9 years old.
River is basically Kelly’s mini-me. She’s "ballsy," as Kelly once put it, and has already dipped her toes into the family business. If you listen to Kelly's album Chemistry, you can actually hear River on the track "you don't make me cry." She’s also the inspiration behind Kelly's children's books.
Then there’s Remy. He’s the one who famously interrupted a Coldplay performance on his mom’s show because he had to use the bathroom. Classic. He’s 9 now and, according to Kelly, finally finding his own voice after dealing with some hearing and speech delays when he was younger.
Wait, What About the Stepkids?
This is where people sometimes get tripped up on the "how many kids" question. Before Kelly and Brandon had River and Remy, Brandon was already a dad. He has two older children from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth: Savannah (born in 2002) and Seth (born in 2006).
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Kelly was their stepmom for nearly a decade. She’s been super vocal about how much she loves them, even admitting she never really wanted kids until she met Savannah and Seth and realized, "Oh, this is kind of cool." Even though the divorce from Brandon was, frankly, a legal mess, she’s stayed in touch with them. In fact, Savannah recently made Kelly a "step-grandma" of sorts when she had her own kids.
Life After Tragedy: The 2025 Turning Point
2025 was a brutal year for the family. In August, Brandon Blackstock passed away at age 48 after a private three-year battle with cancer. It was a shock to fans, but Kelly had actually quietly postponed her Las Vegas residency dates right before the news broke to be there for River and Remy.
Even though they were divorced, Kelly was reportedly "heartbroken" for her children. It’s a heavy thing for an 11-year-old and a 9-year-old to navigate. Recently, in early 2026, Kelly shared that she’s been letting the kids sleep in her bed a lot more lately. It’s a "pile-up" of two dogs and two kids, and honestly, it sounds like exactly what they need right now.
Why the Move to New York Actually Mattered
A couple of years ago, everyone was asking why Kelly uprooted The Kelly Clarkson Show from sunny LA to New York City. She was blunt about it: her mental health was in the trash. She needed a fresh start, and so did the kids.
Living in the Big Apple has changed their vibe. They aren't shuttled around in black SUVs as much; they’re walking the dogs in the park and hitting up museums. Kelly mentioned that Remy walked into his New York school and immediately felt like he belonged. For a kid who struggled with speech and transition, that’s a massive win.
Real Talk: The Custody and Support Situation
For a while, the headlines were dominated by Kelly’s "win" in the custody battle and the eye-watering child support she was paying. Because of the massive income gap between her and Brandon, California law required her to pay around $45,000 a month in child support, even though she had the kids the vast majority of the time.
With Brandon’s passing in 2025, the legal landscape has obviously shifted, but Kelly's priority has remained the same: stability. She’s been very careful not to trash-talk their father in public, keeping that "mama bear" shield up to protect River and Remy from the tabloid noise.
Actionable Insights for Parents Navigating Transition:
- Prioritize Stability Over Geography: Kelly moved to NYC not for the lights, but for a "fresh start" that felt right for her kids' personalities. If a location isn't working for your family's mental health, don't be afraid to pivot.
- Acknowledge Learning Differences Early: Both River (dyslexia) and Remy (speech/hearing) had challenges. Kelly’s openness shows that getting ahead of these issues with specialists makes a world of difference in a child's confidence.
- Keep Adult Conflicts Adult: Despite a "gloves-off" divorce, Kelly focused on being "present" for her kids during their father's illness. Validating a child's love for a parent—regardless of your relationship with that person—is crucial for their emotional development.
Kelly Clarkson might be a global superstar, but at 30 Rock, she’s just the mom trying to make sure her kids are okay after a really hard year. Two kids, two dogs, and a whole lot of resilience.