Kelly Clarkson<\/strong><\/a> wasn\u2019t afraid to let fans see her true emotions in the weeks leading up to ex-husband Brandon Blackstock<\/strong>\u2019s death.<\/p>\n While introducing an updated version of \u201cPiece by Piece\u201d at her July 26 show in Las Vegas, she explained that she\u2019s \u201cnever rewritten a song more\u201d times than that one.<\/p>\n \u201cI wrote this song with a lot of hope and projection for happiness and better than what was happening. And then, well, life set in and I had to change the lyrics,\u201d she explained in a TikTok<\/a> posted by a fan. \u201cSo I just wanted to explain how it feels now\u2026 I\u2019ve done some therapy and I changed the lyrics now and I think it\u2019s perfect. I promise. I\u2019m not gonna change it again.\u201d<\/p>\n The \u201cSince U Been Gone\u201d singer, 43, fought back tears as she admitted that she was struggling to \u201cpull it together.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cScrew it, let\u2019s just sing it,\u201d she finally told the crowd<\/a>. \u201cThis is \u2018Piece by Piece.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n As Star<\/em> previously reported, Clarkson\u2019s ex-husband \u2013 who she shares kids River<\/strong>, 11, and Remington<\/strong>, 9, with \u2013 passed away on August 7 following a more than three-year battle with cancer<\/a>. He was 48.<\/p>\n The \u201cStronger\u201d artist, who divorced Blackstock in 2022 after a messy separation, chose to postpone the remainder of her August shows for the Studio Sessions residency so that she could be \u201cfully present\u201d for their children in this difficult time.<\/p>\n Despite Clarkson and Blackstock\u2019s tumultuous split in 2020, a source said the American Idol<\/em> alum \u201calways wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible<\/a>\u201d with their dad.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,\u201d the source told People<\/em><\/a> earlier this month. \u201cIt became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She\u2019s been devastated for the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/staging.starmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/admphotostwo940916-scaled.jpg\")