Kelly Clarkson’s dispute with her former manager and ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, centered on whether he crossed the line from managing her career into unlawfully procuring work without a talent-agency license. A California Labor Commissioner ruling in 2023 ordered $2,641,374 in commissions returned for four engagements, while finding no violation concerning The Kelly Clarkson Show. The lawsuits were later settled in 2024, according to the Associated Press; the settlement amount was not reported. Blackstock died of cancer in August 2025, aged 48.
Why did Kelly Clarkson sue Brandon Blackstock?
The dispute grew out of Blackstock’s dual role as Clarkson’s manager and the person alleged to have procured professional engagements for her. He managed her from 2017 to 2020 through Starstruck Management Group LLC and Starstruck Entertainment LLC, while Clarkson also had talent agents at Creative Artists Agency. Clarkson and two related entities challenged whether Blackstock and the Starstruck companies had unlawfully procured work under California’s Talent Agencies Act.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Kelly Clarkson - Greatest Hits, Chapter 1 | $7.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
KELLY CLARKSON-BREAKAWAY | $12.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
chemistry | $11.85 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Piece By Piece | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Meaning of Life | $8.26 | Buy on Amazon |
That distinction matters: the legal question was not simply whether Blackstock was her manager, but whether particular actions went beyond management and into talent procurement regulated by California law.
What does California’s Talent Agencies Act have to do with it?
The California Labor Commissioner’s determination describes the Act as generally barring an unlicensed manager from procuring or attempting to procure work for an artist. It also describes a limited safe harbor for a manager acting at the request of and in conjunction with a licensed talent agency. The Commissioner applied those rules engagement by engagement, rather than treating every part of the management relationship alike.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
- Shrink-wrapped
Clarkson, Face Face Productions, and SHPants filed their petition on October 20, 2020. The Labor Commissioner heard it from March 20 to March 24, 2023, and adopted a determination dated November 21, 2023. The petition and procedural record and the Labor Commissioner’s determination set out the parties and proceedings.
What did the Labor Commissioner decide?
The determination assessed five engagements separately. It found unlawful procurement involving four of them, but no violation in connection with The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Rank #2
| Engagement | Finding | Commissions ordered disgorged |
|---|---|---|
| The Voice | Unlawful procurement found; the determination said the safe harbor applied. | $1,983,155.70 |
| Norwegian Cruise Line services agreement | Unlawful procurement found. | $208,125 |
| Wayfair talent and brand agreements | Unlawful procurement found. | $450,000 |
| Billboard Music Awards | Unlawful procurement found. | $93.30 |
| The Kelly Clarkson Show | No violation found; the determination said the safe harbor applied. | No disgorgement ordered for this engagement. |
The order required respondents to disgorge $2,641,374 in commissions paid on or after October 20, 2019, across the four engagements. It also severed the unlawful practices from the broader management contract rather than invalidating the entire contract. These are the findings and remedy in the November 2023 administrative determination, not a verified amount for the later settlement.
How did the dispute end, and how much did Clarkson win?
The Associated Press reported that Clarkson and Blackstock settled lawsuits over alleged management overcharges in 2024. The AP report does not state the settlement amount or its exact scope. Accordingly, the $2,641,374 figure is the amount ordered disgorged in the 2023 determination; it should not be described as the confirmed value of the settlement or as a verified final payment. The sources reporting the settlement do not establish whether an appeal changed the administrative determination before the settlement.
Rank #3
- New Store Stock
What is the status now?
The dispute is historical, not an ongoing suit against Blackstock. AP reported the settlement in 2024 and reported in August 2025 that Blackstock died of cancer at age 48. The report said a representative for his family described him as having “bravely battled cancer for more than three years.” The Associated Press report covers the settlement and his death.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- KELLY
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
