Kelly Clarkson Breaks Social Media Silence Following Ex Brandon Blackstock’s Death

Kelly Clarkson is reflecting on a moment she will never forget.

On Thursday, September 4, the singer-songwriter, 43, took to Instagram to commemorate the anniversary of when she won American Idol in the inaugural season back in 2002, sharing a snap from the show.

“To everyone that took time 23 years ago to call in and vote for me, thank you 🙏 ,” she penned in her caption. “Winning American Idol changed my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years.”

“It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top,” she added. “Thank you, always.”

The throwback photo was the three-time Grammy Award winner’s first post to her Instagram grid following the tragic passing of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

As Star previously reported, the talent manager died on August 7 at age 48 after a three-year battle with melanoma.

Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot in 2013, but the pair — who share children River Rose, 11, and Remington Alexander, 9 — split in 2020.

In Clarkson’s last Instagram post, dated August 6, she alerted followers she would have to cancel the remainder of her Las Vegas residency, explaining that “this past year” her “children’s father has been ill” and that she must “be fully present for them.”