Kelly Clarkson is back on stage in Las Vegas, having returned to her Studio Sessions residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Friday night. This marked her first live performance following a brief hiatus prompted by the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, from cancer in August.
According to Us Weekly, the 43-year-old singer resumed her residency with a cheerful and engaging spirit, bringing her characteristic outspoken energy to the crowd.
🎉 Engagement and Anniversary Celebrations
Clarkson made the performance a memorable experience for her audience by singling out two couples and enthusiastically celebrating their relationships.
- The Proposal: She first focused on a couple who had flown in from London, playing a key role in urging the boyfriend to propose. Once the question was popped, Clarkson playfully insisted the partner accept, thundering, “Say, ‘yes,’ bh,”* much to the delight of the crowd.
- A Decade of Marriage: Later in the show, the focus shifted to a married couple celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary. Acknowledging the achievement, Clarkson exclaimed, “You made it a decade? Fk yeah, look at that!”** She then encouraged them to aim high for longevity: “Do you both promise to keep dancing through life together? This is amazing! — Offbeat or not, for at least another 10 years? F**k that — [how about] 50, 60? Aim high!” She even offered to preside over a commitment ceremony for the couple.
💔 Blackstock’s Passing Caused Hiatus
The series of four shows that Clarkson is currently performing had originally been scheduled for August this year. However, they were postponed when the singer’s former husband, Brandon Blackstock, was gravely ill with cancer. He sadly died on August 7.
A day before the originally scheduled shows, Clarkson had issued a public statement apologizing to fans who had purchased tickets: “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she wrote.
Blackstock and Clarkson were married from 2013 to 2022, and he had also served as her manager for many years. The former couple shares two children. While the exact impact of Blackstock’s death on Clarkson remains private, the loss caused her not only to postpone her shows but also to miss episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show.