Kelly Clarkson praises husband after emotional performance

NASHVILLE, March 1 (UPI) -- Kelly Clarkson says husband Brandon Blackstock is a wonderful father.

The 33-year-old singer praised her spouse's connection with their 20-month-old daughter, River Rose Blackstock, in an interview Monday with On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

"Brandon is such a great father," the star said. "Watching my husband love on his daughter all the time, go to her events and just be there and be present is hard to watch, but beautiful to watch. I know that my kids are going to have that."

Clarkson's comments follow her emotional performance of "Piece by Piece" on Thursday's episode of American Idol. The song was inspired both by Blackstock and Clarkson's own father, Stephen Clarkson, who was absent for most of her life.

"I don't even think I understood the gravity of [my relationship with my father] until being pregnant with River," she shared. "I was like, 'I cannot imagine not seeing this kid to his or her full potential and just seeing what she's going to do, what she's going to be like.'"

"I don't think I knew how much that affected me until writing that song," she added. "I definitely didn't know it would affect me like it does when I sing it live because that's not fun. It's awesome, but it's kind of sad that so many relate to this song."

Clarkson alluded to her estranged relationship with her dad when she released her "Piece by Piece" music video in November. The singer said she considers the song a "happy ending" to "Because of You," which was also inspired by her father.

"So many of us had to grow up without parents to model a healthy relationship for us, so we often get into dysfunctional relationships because it is what is familiar," she wrote at the time.

"[This song is] my love letter celebrating and thanking my husband for being a man that knows how to love me and our children without expecting anything in return. Also, this is a promise to my kids that I will never cease to love them."

Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013 and are expecting their second child. The singer came to fame after winning American Idol Season 1 and performed "Piece by Piece" on the show's 15th and final season last week.