Kelly Clarkson understands firsthand how music can be a powerful remedy. Speaking during press for The Voice, the original American Idol winner revealed she has written roughly 60 songs since filing for divorce from Brandon Blackstock last June. That prolific output reflects how songwriting has become a vital emotional outlet for her.
Kelly calls her upcoming record “really great and really honest.”
“I have this record that we’re working on. It’s really great and really honest,” Kelly said to Entertainment Tonight about the new material. She explained that several practical and personal considerations remain before any release—everything from business logistics to her own readiness to share such personal songs. Even so, she described the creative process as a gift: a necessary way to process grief and loss, and a blessing whether or not every song is heard by the public.
Clarkson emphasized that writing about what she’s been through has helped her move forward. “I have written like 60 songs, it is an insane amount of getting it out,” she said, noting that the sheer quantity has been cathartic. Regardless of whether those tracks reach listeners, the act of creating has offered relief and clarity during a difficult period.
Kelly endured a challenging 2020
Clarkson faced significant personal upheaval in 2020. She filed for divorce after nearly seven years of marriage and later secured primary custody of her two children, River Rose and Remington Alexander. At the same time, legal and financial disputes have unfolded: her estranged husband sought substantial spousal and child support, his family’s management company pursued commissions, and Clarkson filed a petition with the California Labor Board alleging financial improprieties. Those matters have added stress, making the creative outlet of songwriting especially important to her.
With so much at stake, Clarkson explained that she must carefully consider how much of her private life to expose in her music. Every time she writes something personal, she asks herself, “What are you willing to put out there?” That question guides her decisions about what to share publicly and when.
Music as therapy: what Kelly says about healing through songs
Clarkson reflected on the difficult balance of turning intimate experience into art. She referenced earlier songs from her catalog that were shaped by personal pain—songs that were meaningful but also emotionally taxing to create and release. These deeply personal tracks have shaped her career, but releasing them required difficult choices because of their vulnerability.
At the same time, Clarkson recognizes the healing power of music for both artist and listener. She described moments when fans have approached her to say that a song helped them speak about things they had kept inside for years. That connection—knowing her music can open doors for others—reinforces why she continues to write and share such personal work.
She also finds solace in other artists’ music. Clarkson singled out fellow coach John Legend and his album Bigger Love as a source of comfort while she was navigating her divorce. Because that record focuses on joyful, hopeful kinds of love instead of heartbreak, it provided an emotional counterpoint that she found deeply therapeutic. Even when she wasn’t feeling those positive emotions herself, the music’s optimism and hope lifted her.
Throughout this period, Kelly has been deliberate about how she shapes and shares her new record. She described the album as honest and fulfilling, but acknowledged that the timing and details of its release depend on multiple factors—personal readiness, the business side of music, and how the songs fit within her larger artistic narrative.
While she continues to process a complex year, Kelly Clarkson’s songwriting remains a primary avenue for healing, reflection, and connection. Her upcoming record promises to be an unvarnished look at her emotional journey, and she notes the importance of holding space for both private healing and the possibility that her music will help others facing similar losses.
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The Voice season 20 premieres Monday, March 1 on NBC.