Kelly Clarkson Seemingly Shades Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock in Christmas Video After Tense Divorce Battle 

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The Grammy winner shared a visualizer for the new deluxe version of her holiday album, 'When Christmas Comes Around...'

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty; Kelly Clarkson/YouTube

Kelly Clarkson visualizer for When Christmas Comes Around... Again album

Kelly Clarkson isn't visiting any ghosts of Christmas past this holiday season.

On Thursday, Dec. 19, the Grammy winner, 42, appeared to throw shade at her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock in a new video shared to accompany the new deluxe version of her holiday album, When Christmas Comes Around...

The clip, a 53-minute visualizer posted on YouTube, shows four red stockings hanging over a blazing fireplace alongside a Christmas tree. One stocking read "Mom," while two featured the names of her kids, daughter River, 10, and son Remy, 8.

The stocking on the far right had the word "Nope" stitched on it, seemingly as a subtle diss to her ex-husband Blackstock, 48.

Kelly Clarkson/YouTube

Kelly Clarkson album visualizer

Related: Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's Relationship Timeline

The new version of Clarkson's 2021 album, retitled When Christmas Comes Around... Again, was released in November with the new songs "You for Christmas" and "Sleigh Bells."

The American Idol alum was married to Blackstock for almost seven years before she filed for divorce on June 4, 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized two years later.

The singer has been using music to express her emotions post-split. Reflecting on writing her latest original studio album Chemistry, Clarkson told PEOPLE in January 2024 that she's not the type of person to hold a grudge — but music has been a way to express herself. 

"I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet," Clarkson said. "Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it's just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming."

Ralph Bavaro/NBC via Getty

Kelly Clarkson, pictured performing in 2024

Last month, the "Miss Independent" artist told KOST 103.5 she's "enjoying being single" at the moment, but her kids aren't looking forward to her getting back into dating.

"They constantly bring it up, 'Please, we don't want you with anybody else,'" Clarkson shared. "They're young, it's hard to picture their mom with someone else other than their dad."

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Ultimately, Clarkson said, she won't be adhering to her kids' wishes: "I have expressed like, 'Hey, I love you guys, but Mommy needs lovings too.'"

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