The couple, who shared two children — River Rose and Remington Alexander — faced escalating conflict during their divorce. In 2020, a Los Angeles court granted Clarkson primary physical custody, citing concerns over stability and co-parenting difficulties. Although both retained joint legal custody and agreed to respectful conduct, Clarkson publicly admitted that the emotional and physical distance made the arrangement difficult.

Custody was just one of many issues. Financial disagreements dragged on for years, with Clarkson accusing Blackstock and his company of improperly collecting commissions from her contracts, including her work on The Voice. A trial was scheduled for August 2024, but both parties dismissed their cases by May, reaching a private settlement that avoided further public contention.

Unknown to the public at the time, Blackstock was battling cancer throughout much of the legal dispute. His declining health coincided