Kelly Clarkson hinted that her divorce from Brandon Blackstock contributed to her decision to leave The Voice after eight seasons. She stated in an interview that she needed a summer off after "a rough couple of years" and hadn't had a free summer since she was 16. Kelly spent time with her family in Montana and also revealed that it was easier for her children to spend time with both parents while in the countryside. Her divorce from Blackstock was acrimonious and dragged on for over a year before being finalized this March, during which time she continued to host her talk show, coach on The Voice, and release a Christmas album.
