This past year, however, has been dedicated to not just picking up the pieces, but about reassembling them in a way more befitting of the life she's earned and is once again free to live on her own terms.

No, we're not saying that now she gets what she wants, you are.

Whether that includes dating anytime soon is TBD, Clarkson having been refreshingly honest about how not excited she is about that part of being single. Talking about that post-split rebuilding process with Gwyneth Paltrow on The Kelly Clarkson Show in March 2021, the host said, "I'm actually in that place where I think a lot of people, I've heard, that go through divorce, it's almost like you start dating yourself again, like you actually make time for you again, and I love dating me. I'm actually not looking for it."

Frankly, that relationship she's been cultivating with herself has been going great. In October she released her ninth studio album, When Christmas Comes Around..., hosted a Yuletide special to ring in the holidays in December, and lately she's been co-emceeing NBC's American Song Contest with Snoop Dogg (watch your back, Martha), all while helming the third season of her much-loved talk show.