Kelly Clarkson has opened up about her new romance with music manager Brandon Blackstock, insisting she has "high hopes" for the relationship.
 
The singer long championed her single status since shooting to fame, but fell in love in February after being re-introduced to Blackstock, Reba McEntire's stepson and Blake Shelton's manager, at the Super Bowl, where she performed the U.S. anthem.
 
Clarkson has since credited her new partner for inspiring her to get fit, and has now revealed she has known him for several years - but he was married.
 
She tells Britain's You magazine, "After six years of having to say there's no one special in my life, finally there is. Brandon is my manager's son. I've known him for six years but he was married for most of that time. Then, suddenly, there he was at the Super Bowl and he was single."
 
And she insists the pair works so well together because he understands the pressures of the music industry.
 
She adds, "Brandon understands my job, which is a major thing. He works as crazy-hard as me, if not harder and so doesn't get in a mood if I can't always call when I say I will. I've got high hopes. My fingers are crossed."