Kelly Clarkson is embracing the holiday spirit with a twist this year, leaving no room for the ghosts of Christmas past. On Thursday, Dec. 19, the 42-year-old Grammy winner appeared to subtly shade her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, in a new video accompanying the deluxe release of her holiday album, When Christmas Comes Around…
The 53-minute visualizer, posted on YouTube, features a cozy holiday scene: four red stockings hanging above a roaring fireplace, with a Christmas tree glowing nearby. Each stocking bears a label: “Mom” for Clarkson, and “River” and “Remy” for her two children, aged 10 and 8, respectively.
But it’s the fourth stocking that caught fans’ attention. Positioned on the far right, it simply reads “Nope,” seemingly a cheeky nod to her ex-husband, Blackstock, 48. The playful diss did not go unnoticed, with viewers interpreting it as a lighthearted yet pointed message about leaving the past behind.
Clarkson’s move reflects her ability to channel personal experiences into her art, subtly addressing her journey while focusing on her role as a mother and artist. The holiday season, it seems, is all about new beginnings—no “Nope-worthy” baggage allowed.