Kelly Clarkson Admits To Spanking Her Children

Kelly Clarkson just landed herself in hot water after admitting she spanks her kids when they misbehave — and yep, the internet is losing it.

The 42-year-old American Idol winner, who gave us hits like “Since U Been Gone” and “Because Of You,” is now facing some serious backlash online. Fans aren’t holding back after her recent comments about parenting and discipline.

Kelly — who’s sold over 25 million albums and 45 million singles around the world — once crowned by Billboard as “one of pop music’s greatest singers,” might’ve hit the wrong note this time.

In an interview, she said she’s “not above spanking” her children if they act out — and that’s when things blew up on social media.

People rushed to X (formerly Twitter) to call her out. One user wrote, “Kelly Clarkson should’ve been canceled when she proudly admitted that she spanks her kids. I deleted all her music from my library after that.”

Another said, “I was spanked as a kid. It was traumatizing. I don’t even remember what I did wrong — just how scared I was.”

Now the debate is on fire — Is spanking child abuse or just old-school parenting? Either way, Kelly Clarkson’s parenting confession has the internet divided.

The drama around Kelly Clarkson’s parenting confession just keeps heating up — and social media is completely split.

One person fired back, saying, “You can’t hit someone and then teach them that hitting you is wrong.” Another wrote, “I could never hit my kid, no matter how hard parenting gets. Kids don’t have the emotional control or reasoning skills adults do.”

But not everyone is coming for Kelly. Some fans actually jumped to her defense. One user commented, “There’s nothing wrong with that! In my culture, spanking is just a form of discipline — not abuse.”

Another supporter shared their own story: “I stole candy when I was a kid, got spanked, and never did it again. Sometimes it works.”

Clarkson — the powerhouse voice behind “Stronger” and the first-ever American Idol winner — shares two children with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, a talent manager.

Now, the internet’s basically divided into two camps: those calling spanking outdated and harmful, and those defending it as traditional discipline. Either way, Kelly Clarkson’s parenting style has turned into one of the biggest celebrity controversies online right now.

Kelly Clarkson’s personal life has been just as talked about as her music career — and not always for the best reasons.

She and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, welcomed their daughter River Rose in 2014 and their son Remington “Remy” Alexander in 2016. The two first crossed paths back in 2006, started dating in 2012, got engaged that same year, and finally tied the knot in 2013.

But after nearly seven years of marriage, things took a turn. In June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” What followed was a long and messy legal battle — full of drama over spousal support, child custody, and even Clarkson’s Montana ranch, according to Us Weekly.

The divorce was officially wrapped up in 2022, with a settlement that had Clarkson paying $1,326,161 to Blackstock in a one-time payment.

It was a tough chapter for the Grammy-winning singer, who’s been open about her struggles balancing fame, motherhood, and heartbreak. Despite it all, she’s stayed strong — turning pain into music and keeping fans hooked with her authenticity.

Kelly Clarkson’s divorce details just keep proving how messy Hollywood breakups can get.

According to Today, the singer agreed to pay her ex, Brandon Blackstock, a whopping $115,000 a month in spousal support until January 31, 2024, plus another $45,601 per month in child support. The court arrangement also gave them joint custody of their two kids — though Clarkson has primary custody.

And it doesn’t stop there. This year, Clarkson reportedly reached a confidential financial settlement with Blackstock over the millions in commissions he allegedly paid himself while managing her career, as revealed by Rolling Stone.

Even with all the chaos — the legal drama, public scrutiny, and financial stress — Kelly’s kept her focus on what matters most: her kids and her career.

She’s never shied away from talking about the realities of motherhood either. In a 2016 chat with Redbook, she got real, saying:

“I have a lot of mom guilt. I was just talking about this… If you’re a mom, you want to be with your kid every day.”

It’s moments like that that remind fans why people love her — she’s honest, relatable, and not afraid to show her human side.

Kelly Clarkson has always kept it real about motherhood — and honestly, that’s one of the reasons fans love her so much.

In one emotional moment, she admitted, “You don’t want to miss a moment. You want her to need you and want you — not somebody else. I’m not gonna BS you, that’s hard.” She went on to say, “There are days where I cry and think, ‘I don’t know if I can handle all this or get it all done.’”

Still, Kelly keeps it positive. “At the end of the day, 99 percent of the time, it’s awesome and it’s worth it — and that’s what I tell myself.”

But even with her honesty and vulnerability, some of her parenting comments have stirred up major controversy.

Back in a 2018 interview on Atlanta’s 94.1 radio station (via FM104), Kelly admitted something that shocked a lot of people:

“I’m not above a spanking, which people aren’t necessarily into. I don’t mean hitting her hard — I just mean a spanking.”

That one comment set off a firestorm online, with parents and fans split right down the middle. Some saw it as old-school parenting, while others called it harmful and outdated.

Even years later, the debate around Kelly Clarkson’s parenting style continues to trend — especially now that more people are talking about gentle parenting and mental health awareness in raising kids.

Kelly Clarkson has never been one to hide how she was raised — and it definitely shows in how she parents her own kids.

She once explained that her views on discipline come straight from her childhood, saying:

“My parents spanked me, and I did fine in life. I feel fine about it, and I do that as well. It’s tricky when you’re out in public because people think that’s wrong or something, but I find nothing wrong with a spanking.”

Clarkson even got specific about how she handles those tough parenting moments:

“I warn her. I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m going to spank you on your bottom if you don’t stop right now — this is ridiculous.’ And honestly, it’s really helped. She doesn’t do that kind of stuff as often.”

But not everyone agrees with Kelly’s old-school approach. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has taken a strong stance against spanking as a form of discipline.

According to the AAP, corporal punishment — including spanking — can actually increase aggression in young children and doesn’t teach them true responsibility or self-control.

Their official statement warns:

“New evidence suggests that spanking may cause harm to a child by affecting normal brain development. Other methods that teach right from wrong are safer and more effective.”

The AAP also cautions against verbal punishment, like yelling, shaming, or humiliation — all of which can be just as damaging emotionally.

So while Kelly Clarkson says spanking “works” for her family, experts are clear: there are better, more positive ways to discipline that don’t risk long-term harm.