Kelly Clarkson became a wife to Brandon Blackstock and mother of three kids within one year, and while that may seem overwhelming, she's happier than ever.
ADVERTISEMENT
"My whole life took a big 180," Clarkson, 32, told People in the cover story of its latest issue. "I never thought I was going to be a mom, so it's very much changed my world in the most awesome way."
The first-season American Idol winner gave birth to a daughter River Rose, now 8 months, and took on a stepmother role for Blackstock's children Savannah, 13, and Seth, 8. She has certainly made time for her career, but homework, diapers and date nights have also been thrown into the mix.
"I love what I do, but I feel like I relied on my career a lot for my self-worth. And now I'm more than that," Clarkson said. "I'm a mother and a wife and have this whole other thing going on."
River Rose is "the happiest baby on the planet," according to the singer. "I have a certain level of peace I didn't know was going to come with it."
ADVERTISEMENT
Clarkson's parents reportedly went through a painful divorce when she was younger so her new lifestyle has refreshed her mindset on marriage and family.
"My best friend always says, 'You just want to create the family you never had.' I might be doing that," Clarkson admitted to People.
"In defense of my family, it happens. People fall out of love, and people go separate ways. People are human. I've accomplished a lot, but I guess the biggest success I want is that whenever I die people will say, 'She was so successful as a mother, and as a wife.' That's kind of my big goal."
The singer wed Blackstock, a 38-year-old talent manager, in an intimate October 2013 ceremony at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee. The couple got engaged in December 2012.
Clarkson's new album Piece by Piece, her first non-holiday album since 2011, gets released March 3.
About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski