Kelly Clarkson’s management company is suing her over unpaid commissions. Remember, that Kelly’s manager is her estranged husband, Brandon Blackstock, and it appears the battle over money has begun.
Variety reports that the talk show host’s longtime management company filed the lawsuit on Tuesday claiming it’s owed $1.4 million in unpaid commissions.
Starstruck Management Group, run by Narvel Blackstock, filed the claim in Los Angeles Superior Court. The American Idol alum and The Voice coach married Blackstock’s son, Brandon Blackstock, in 2013, and filed for divorce earlier this year.
According to the complaint, Clarkson has not paid the full commission this year for her work on The Voice and The Kelly Clarkson Show, her syndicated talk show.
The company has represented Kelly for the last 13 years. She paid Starstruck a 15% commission on her gross earnings. The suit states that the singer has paid the firm $1.9 million this year, but owes another $1.4 million. The suit also claims that Kelly will owe at least $5.4 million by the end of the year.
Bring it on, Kelly responds
Worth noting: I received a tip on Twitter that Brandon is no longer listed as executive producer on Kelly’s talks show. It is now apparent that the couple are severing financial ties completely. And, unsurprisingly, it’s messy.
Kelly reacted on Twitter today. Translation: BRING IT ON.
— Kelly Clarkson (@kellyclarkson) September 29, 2020
According to Variety, Kelly does not have a written management agreement with Starstruck. The suit alleges that Kelly’s attorney and business manager verbally negotiated the deal in 2007, and that Clarkson confirmed the deal in a phone call.
“Over the course of approximately 13 years, Starstruck developed Clarkson into a mega superstar,” the complaint states. “By way of example only, Starstruck was instrumental in helping Clarkson achieve success in terms of numerous hit albums, multiple Grammy wins and nominations, her role on popular television shows like ‘The Voice’ and her own talk show. Despite Starstruck’s hard work and dedication, Clarkson has decided she is going to stop paying Starstruck for what is contractually owed.”
