Kelly Clarkson Reveals How Her Kids Remy and River Really Feel About Her Dating Life: 'Mommy Needs Lovings Too'

Mar. 15, 2025

Kelly Clarkson.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Gilbert Flores/Billboard via Getty

Kelly Clarkson’skids aren’t particularly thrilled that she is dating again.

The “Behind These Hazel Eyes” singer, 42, spoke toKOST 103.5about how she’s “enjoying being single” at the moment, but said that her two kids — son Remington “Remy,” 8, and daughter River, 10, whom she shares with ex-husband Brandon Blackstock — aren’t looking forward to her dipping her toes back into dating.

“They constantly bring it up, ‘Please, we don’t want you with anybody else,’ " Clarkson shared. “They’re young, it’s hard to picture their mom with someone else other than their dad.”

Although Clarkson said that she’s been liking single life, the musician noted that she won’t be adhering to her kids' wishes.

“I have expressed like, ‘Hey, I love you guys but Mommy needs lovings too,’ " Clarkson shared.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Clarkson, who filed for divorce from Blackstock in 2020, has shared in the past that her two kidshave been upset about their parents' split.

On a March 2023 episode ofAngie Martinez’sIRLpodcast, the singer said that she makes it a ritual to check in on her kids and gauge their feelings after going through her divorce.

“I ask my kids every night when we’re snuggling and I put them to bed, ‘Are you happy? And if you’re not, what could make you happier?’ " Clarkson said. “Especially the past two years … it kills me [but] I want them to be honest so I don’t ever say, ‘Oh God, don’t tell me that,’ but a lot of times itwould be like, ‘I’m just really sad. I wish Mommy and Daddy were in the same house.’ They’re really honest about it. I’m raising that kind of individual.”

“I think [it’s important to be] communicating with them and … not treating them like an adult, because they’re not, but not treating them like a child,” Clarkson added. “They’re not small feelings. Those are huge feelings, and those are huge emotions.”

Kelly Clarkson and her two kids, River and Remy.Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

Later that year, Clarkson appeared on thePodcrushedpodcastand admitted that her kids haveshared questions and concerns about loveafter seeing their parents go through a divorce.

“When you do go through a divorce, especially with young kids, the definition of love comes up quite a bit,” she told the hosts.

Clarkson admitted that her kids have asked, “So you don’t love daddy anymore?”

The singer said she assures her kids that she does love their father. “I love that Daddy gave me you two. We just don’t like each other like we did. It’s just different now,” she recalled telling them.

Clarkson said the hard part comes when “You can see it on their face, they question, ‘Can your love change for me?’ "

“It’s hard. and then it’s hard when they go, ‘Why don’t I have a grandpa from you? You told me love is different with a parent and a child than with a husband and a wife. But it’s not because your dad left you,’ " she shared, referencing her relationship with her late, estranged dad.

source: people.com