Kelly Clarkson changes lyrics to ‘Piece by Piece’ after divorcing Brandon Blackstock

When it comes to Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson has changed her tune — literally.

The 41-year-old Grammy and Daytime Emmy Award winner altered the lyrics to her 2015 song “Piece by Piece” following her divorce from the music executive.

After seven years of marriage, she filed for divorce in 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce was settled in March 2022.

In line with being outspoken about her divorce – even describing her 10th studio album, “Chemistry,” as “the arc of an entire relationship”– Clarkson shared a new take on “Piece by Piece” with fans during the Aug. 5 performance of her Las Vegas residency at Planet Hollywood.

“This song I initially wrote just super hopeful, right? And well, sometimes hopeful turns into hopeless, so here we go. ‘Piece by Piece’,” the “Since U Been Gone” powerhouse told the crowd in the video clip making the rounds on social media.

The original version of the song (co-written with super-producer Gregory Kurstin) included lyrics about how Blackstock “filled the holes” that her father burned into her at the age of six. Clarkson previously sang about how parental abandonment impacted her on 2005′s “Because of You.”

The new version of “Piece by Piece” switched all the pronouns to singular first-person pronouns.

“Piece by piece, I collected me/ Off the ground where you abandoned things/ Piece by piece, I filled the holes/ That you burned in me at 6 years old/ I just walk away when they ask for money/ I take care of me, ‘cause I love me/ Piece by piece, I restored my faith/ That a heart can still beat even when it breaks,” the “American Idol” alum sang.

Clarkson shares two young children with Blackstock, her former manager who is also the former stepson of country music singer Reba McEntire.

Blackstock has two other children from his previous marriage.