Why Kelly Clarkson changed her name to Kelly Brianne

“I’m still Kelly Clarkson.”

You know Kelly Clarkson — or, if we get all that’s on your birth certificate, Kelly Brianne Clarkson.

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Earlier this year, the singer and talk show host legally changed her name to Kelly Brianne — effectively making her middle name her last name.

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At the time, Kelly said the reason for the name change was so it “more fully reflects who I am” — but turns out that wasn’t the whole story.

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In an interview for People (The TV Show!), Kelly explained that the name change was due to her divorce from ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.

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“I just got divorced, so I had to drop my married last name,” she explained.

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Kelly went on to explain that the reason she legally changed her name to Kelly Brianne was “for my personal life” — so if you still call her Kelly Clarkson, you’re in the clear.

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“I’m still Kelly Clarkson,” she explained, before joking, “I don’t think I can change Clarkson at this point. I am 20 years old!”

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I couldn’t have said it better myself.

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