Kelly Clarkson Recalls Being Told She Wasn’t “Sexy Enough” for The Voice
Kelly Clarkson has revealed a painful memory from her marriage to Brandon Blackstock — one she says she will never forget.
In testimony before a California labor commissioner, Clarkson recalled that her then-husband and manager repeatedly discouraged her from pursuing a coaching role on NBC’s The Voice. According to Clarkson, Blackstock claimed the network wanted “a sex symbol type” like Rihanna, describing the role as needing someone “sexy” and, in his words, “someone that was black” to meet diversity goals. He also allegedly told her she was too similar to longtime coach Blake Shelton, making her unfit for the panel.
“For a wife, being told you’re not a sex symbol is not something you forget,” Clarkson said during the hearing.
A Legal and Personal Battle
The revelation surfaced in the midst of Clarkson and Blackstock’s bitter legal fallout after their 2020 divorce. Because Blackstock had managed her career as well as being her husband, the split tangled into both personal and financial disputes.
The California labor commissioner ultimately ruled that Blackstock had acted outside the scope of his management role by securing contracts that only licensed agents are allowed to negotiate. Among those deals was Clarkson’s Voice contract — one she said she wasn’t even told about until after NBC had made the offer.
The decision ordered Blackstock to repay $2.64 million to Clarkson, including nearly $2 million tied to The Voice and additional commissions from partnerships with Wayfair, Norwegian Cruise Line, and the Billboard Music Awards. The commissioner also noted that Blackstock’s testimony shifted repeatedly and found him “not a credible witness” on most issues. He has since appealed.
Clarkson’s Triumph on Her Own Terms
Despite Blackstock’s alleged remarks, Clarkson went on to join The Voice in 2018. She served as a coach through 2021, returned in 2023, and became one of the show’s most beloved figures. All the while, she balanced her role with hosting The Kelly Clarkson Show and navigating the emotional toll of her divorce.
Clarkson and Blackstock were married nearly seven years before she filed for divorce in June 2020. Their split sparked battles over their Montana ranch, custody of their children — River Rose, now 9, and Remington, 7 — and financial support. A 2022 settlement required Clarkson to pay $45,000 per month in child support and $115,000 in spousal support until January 2024. When those payments ended, a source close to Clarkson said she felt “relieved” and ready for a “fresh start.”
Redefining Strength and Success
In many ways, Clarkson’s success on The Voice became its own quiet justice. Not only did she secure the position she was once told she wasn’t “sexy” enough for, but she thrived, holding her own alongside Shelton and other industry giants.
Clarkson may not match an outdated Hollywood notion of a sex symbol, but her career is built on something more enduring: talent, authenticity, and resilience. With legal victories behind her and a thriving career still ahead, she’s proven that strength — not sex appeal — is the foundation of her lasting legacy.