Kelly Clarkson Countersues Father-in-Law in Legal Battle Amid Ugly Divorce

Photo credit: Jeff Kravitz - Getty Images
Photo credit: Jeff Kravitz - Getty Images
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From Delish

It's not a surprise that the person who sings "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" wouldn't back down for a fight. Kelly Clarkson is countersuing her estranged husband Brandon Blackstock's father, Narvel Blackstock, and his management company, Starstruck Management Group. The company alleges that Kelly owes them $1.4 million in unpaid commissions, but she denies these claims.

People reports that in a labor petition filed on Oct. 20, Kelly wrote that Starstruck Management Group violated the California Labor Code for "procuring, offering, promising, or attempting to procure employment or engagements" for her without first obtaining a talent agency license. So, she says, any and all agreements—including their reported verbal contract in which she agreed to pay them 15 percent commission on her gross earnings—be "declared void and unenforceable."

Brandon's attorney Bryan Freedman responded to her argument in a statement to People:

"While Starstruck Management Group provided talent management services on her behalf, it did so at all times that CAA was her agency of record. It is unfortunate that Kelly is again attempting to avoid paying commissions that are due and owing to Starstruck to try and achieve some perceived advantage in her ongoing custody and divorce proceedings."

Variety was the first to break this news of the initial suit on Sept. 29, reporting that she owes them millions for her work on The Kelly Clarkson Show and The Voice this year. They are also claiming that she'll owe at least $5.4 million by the end of 2020.

“Over the course of approximately 13 years, Starstruck developed Clarkson into a mega superstar,” the complaint states, per Variety. “By way of example only, Starstruck was instrumental in helping Clarkson achieve success in terms of numerous hit albums, multiple Grammy wins and nominations, her role on popular television shows like The Voice and her own talk show. Despite Starstruck’s hard work and dedication, Clarkson has decided she is going to stop paying Starstruck for what is contractually owed.”

Kelly started working with Narvel back in 2007, and he's the one who introduced her to Brandon, whom she married in 2013. The pair split up in June, and Kelly opened up about the breakup on her show, saying, "2020 has brought a lot of change also to my personal life. Definitely didn't see anything coming that came."

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