Singer Kelly Clarkson is leaving the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles for New York. She admitted to USA TODAY, “I’ll be real honest: I thought I was making a horrible decision. I knew I needed a fresh start and couldn’t be in LA.” The television show host confessed what state she considered moving to before packing her bags for New York.
She said, “I really wanted to be in Montana, but you can’t really do a show from there quite yet. So I was like, ‘The only other option would probably be New York.’” The Grammy-winning singer relocated her daytime show for its fifth season to the East Coast, as her studio is located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
Clarkson continued, “At this point, I’m 40 years old. Mama rented something nice!” Clarkson remarked. “I was like, ‘I’m not living here unless it’s right by the park and really nice for the kids.’” The mom-of-two’s move comes after her divorce from Brandon Blackstock. Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013, and she filed for divorce in 2020 after seven years of marriage. They share two children – River Rose and Remy.
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The “Because of You” crooner noted the split was part of the reason she decided to flee Los Angeles. She additionally revealed she’s the happiest she’s been in a long time with her divorce behind her. Clarkson shared with USA TODAY, “Full disclosure, I put on a smile a lot of those times because I was struggling a lot in my personal life.”
She continued, “I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of handling and also what you should not handle. That was me saying ‘bye’ to ‘The Voice’ and having this big move. I love that family, but I was like, ‘I’m struggling. I can’t smile anymore. I don’t feel like smiling.”
On the latest season of her daytime show, Clarkson said, “What’s cool for me with Season 5 is I am in such a great place, not only with my kids, but with me personally and with the show,” Clarkson continues. “I feel like a weight has lifted. That move was very needed. I think the thing I’m most excited about with Season 5, on a selfish level, is just showing up to work smiling and actually meaning it. That’s a beautiful gift that you don’t realize until you’re out of it.”