Photo by: Ethan Miller/ Staff/ Getty

The original American Idol, Kelly Clarkson, takes on Blake Shelton today at the Department of Defense Warrior Games opening ceremony at Soldier Field. Audiences might remember how judge Keith Urban turned into a ball of tears last year during Clarkson’s performance of “Piece by Piece” – the song about Kelly Clarkson’s father.  “Piece by Piece” gave audiences a glimpse into the relationship between Stephen Michael Clarkson and Kelly Clarkson.

With more than 100 number ones on the Billboard charts, three Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, four American Music Awards and two Academy of Country Music Awards, Kelly Clarkson needs no introduction. But ever since she released the song inspired by her father and their troubled relationship, many have been curious to know more about him. Little is known of Kelly Clarkson’s dad, and so we are bringing all we know about him in our Stephen Michael Clarkson wiki.

Who is Kelly Clarkson’s Dad, Stephen Michael Clarkson?

Stephen Michael Clarkson was an Engineer by profession. While not much is known about his birth, a glance at other official documents like his marriage record and divorce papers, reveals he was born in 1952. Doing the math, we put 65 years in the Stephen Michael Clarkson age column.

Stephen Michael Clarkson’s Wife

Stephen Michael Clarkson married Jeanne Ann Clarkson on Christmas Eve in 1971.

In August of 1989, when Kelly was a little over 6 years, Stephen Michael Clarkson divorced his wife and left the family forever. The divorce would later inspire the song “Because of You” and Kelly Clarkson’s hit single, “Piece by Piece.” The lyrics are so emotional and close to her heart that she often can’t get through the song without crying. She spoke about the lyrics of the song to Glamour Magazine, a revealed the meaning behind them. “It’s a positive song, even though I know it sounds sad. I don’t know what my father went through as a child, and I don’t know why he left and made the decisions he made, but everyone’s human. I don’t understand it for me, but I understand the depth of what that is—having a child—now, and he’s made me want to be that much more present in my family,” she told Glamour in 2015.

Stephen Michael Clarkson Kids

At the time they were married, Stephen Michael Clarkson and Jeanne had three children, Jason Michael Clarkson, Alyssa Beth Clarkson, and Kelly Brianne Clarkson.

The oldest, Jason Clarkson, was born in 1973. Alyssa was born in 1976, and Kelly, the youngest of the Clarkson siblings, was born in 1982. Stephen Michael Clarkson also has two kids of his own from his second marriage, named Eric Clarkson and Kevin Clarkson.

After their parent’s divorce, Jason went to live with his father in California. Alyssa went to live in North Carolina with an aunt and Kelly Clarkson stayed with her mother. Clarkson revealed in an interview, “We couldn’t even afford to call and stuff like that. We were all very poor.”

After many years of separation, the three reunited at Jason’s wedding in Alaska, a year before Kelly rose to fame. It was a great reunion and the three have been super close ever since.

Jason then joined Kelly Clarkson’s production team. He was also featured in Walk Away, one of Kelly Clarkson’s music videos that was released in 2006.

In 2012, Jason Clarkson was arrested in Texas for drinking and driving.

Many attribute Jason’s problems with alcohol to his parents’ tumultuous relationship, and their subsequent divorce. It’s true the divorce had a huge impact on the children, but rather than use it as an excuse, the trio learned from it and they learned to appreciate their own partners and children.

Thank you @archetype_photo for the beautiful pictures once again!!! Y'all are the best!

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Where Things Stand Today

Kelly Clarkson has a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son with her husband, Brandon Blackstock. You’ve got to check out the pics of this perfect little family because they’re simply adorable! Though she’s tried to come to terms with her relationship with her father, she still struggles to figure out why he left them in the first place.

We salute you, Kelly Clarkson, for rising above the tribulations that life dealt you and getting your act together, piece by piece. And what an amazing act, we might add! After all, it’s because of you that we learned it’s not the cards you’re dealt in life, it’s how you play them.