• Kelly Clarkson's husband, Brandon Blackstock, died from melanoma at age 48 in August 2025.
  • The Kelly Clarkson Show host has stayed silent on social media amid the tragic loss.
  • The singer broke her Instagram silence to reflect on the anniversary of her American Idol win.

Kelly Clarkson recently suffered a heartbreaking family tragedy ... but she's breaking her social media silence for an emotional reason.

In August, fans of The Kelly Clarkson Show host were devastated to learn about the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, from melanoma at age 48. And although Kelly has had her talk show and the new series Songs and Stories With Kelly Clarkson airing on NBC, she has primarily stayed silent for the sake of her children with Brandon, River Rose and Remington "Remy" Alexander.

But as folks noticed on Instagram on September 4, Kelly spoke out to commemorate a moment that changed her life forever. As it was the 23rd anniversary since she was crowned the first American Idol back in 2002, Kelly expressed her gratitude for how much everyone's support has meant to her over the years.

"To everyone that took time 23 years ago to call in and vote for me, thank you 🙏," she penned in the caption. "Winning American Idol changed my life and I will be forever grateful for all of you that have supported me for so many years. It is a gift to find your purpose and passion, and to be able to make a living doing it is the cherry on top. Thank you, always."

As fans realized Kelly finally spoke to the public online, they immediately went to the comments to share their words of support.

"You are THE American Idol. A gift to us all," one person emotionally wrote to her. "You are the definition of American Idol! ❤️," another cheered. "Love you so much! We made the right choice!" a different follower added.

Fans may remember Kelly auditioned for American Idol more than two decades ago, using the song "Express Yourself" by Madonna for her audition. She eventually won the coveted title, with Justin Guarini coming in second place. And alongside releasing multiple hit albums, she showcases her incredible vocal talent every weekday with different covers for her popular "Kellyoke" opening segment.

We're thrilled for Kelly, and what an incredible career she's built for herself after this crowning moment!