Kelly Clarkson Recalls Dolly Parton’s Words to Her Thirty Minutes After Her Divorce Was Finalized

Dolly Parton supported Kelly Clarkson during a difficult moment, the singer revealed on the latest episode of the Las Culturistas podcast posted Wednesday (Sept. 30).

While discussing her memories of the late country music icon, who died in August at age 80 following a brief cancer battle, Clarkson stated that she first met Parton at a Reba McEntire tribute years ago.

The Dollywood founder became someone the American Idol alumnus frequently ran into afterward. Clarkson’s most treasured memory of Parton occurred in 2022, when Clarkson performed a live rendition of “I Will Always Love You” at the ACM Awards to honor Parton, who watched from the side of the stage. Just 30 minutes before going on stage, Clarkson learned her divorce from Brandon Blackstock had been finalized.

“I found out right before that performance,” she recalled, after running into Parton backstage while preparing to go on and explaining the situation. “She, kind of, caught me. I was like, ‘I’m sorry. It’s just kind of a wild moment for me.’ We just had this moment.”

Clarkson did not share Parton’s exact words, but she emphasized that the interaction helped her stay grounded during a turbulent personal period. Her relationship with Blackstock involved tension during its final chapter and afterward through a lengthy legal battle regarding alleged unpaid management fees, which they settled in 2024.

Blackstock died in 2025 at age 48 after a three-year cancer battle. Clarkson has since left The Kelly Clarkson Show to spend more time with their two children as their sole parent.

“She’s just one of those people you don’t have to know your whole life, but you can in one instance,” Clarkson said of Parton. “What she said backstage to me, it was just a really beautiful thing.”

Watch Clarkson’s full appearance on Las Culturistas below.