Kelly Clarkson has recalled how she shared a “beautiful” moment with Dolly Parton shortly after her divorce was finalised.
During an interview on the Las Culturistas podcast on Wednesday, the singer-TV presenter remembered singing an emotional rendition of the late country music legend’s hit song, I Will Always Love You, at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2022.
Kelly recounted how her divorce from Brandon Blackstock was finalised just 30 minutes before she was set to walk onstage to honour Dolly.
“(Dolly), kind of, caught me,” she explained. “We were having a conversation about something else, and I was like, ‘I’m sorry. It’s just kind of a wild moment for me.'”
The Breakaway singer had “this moment backstage” with the Jolene hitmaker, though she didn’t disclose details of the exchange.
“She’s just one of those people you don’t have to know your whole life, but you can in one instance,” the 44-year-old continued. “Every time we ran into each other, she was so cool. It’s like you’re catching up with an old friend. That moment for me and what she said backstage to me was just a really beautiful thing, and really helpful.”
In addition, The Kelly Clarkson Show host remembered how she repeated to herself “you cannot break” ahead of the performance for Dolly because it was a “tribute to someone”.
“So much had just been lifted. It was just a really weird hour for me. But, anyway, she was very, very cool, and I’ll never forget that moment,” she added of Dolly, who died at the age of 80 in August following a “brief battle” with cancer.
Kelly and talent manager Brandon were married from 2013 until they finalised their divorce in March 2022, with the pair sharing daughter River, 12, and son Remington, 10.
Brandon died at the age of 48 in August 2025 following a battle with melanoma.
Elsewhere in the conversation, Kelly revealed she isn’t currently dating.
“My kids right now, I think there’s a lot behind that, but I think that would rock their boat a little bit,” the Since U Been Gone star explained. “And honestly, this is not a bulls**t answer. I love my life right now. Like, it just got to where I am not exhausted at every point of it.”
