Kelly Clarkson, 41, finally reveals how she lost a drastic amount of weight as she shares the two things she did differently with diet and exercise: ‘I’ve been listening to my doctor’

Kelly Clarkson has finally revealed what she did to drastically lose weight this summer.

The 41-year-old pop star said in her People magazine cover story this week that she made two big changes in her life.

One of those was walking everywhere in her new home in New York City, which helped her get the exercise she needed.

Before Manhattan, she lived in Los Angeles, where she drove her car everywhere, which limited her daily steps.

And the second thing The Voice star did was listen to her doctor, which meant cutting back on carbs and eating a high-protein diet.

She told the publication that she enjoys walking around the neighborhood and that the steps are great for her waistline.

And she's bringing along her children River Rose, 9, and son Remington Alexander, 7 – father is ex Brandon Blackstock.

'We take the dogs for a walk in the park a few times. We're going to have ice cream because my daughter is going to exhaust me. We're going to make slime and go to the museum,” she said.

'Walking in the city is quite a workout. And I'm really into infrared saunas right now. And I just got a cold dip because everyone was wearing me out,” Kelly added.

And what she puts on her plate is different.

'I eat a healthy mix. I lost weight because I listened to my doctor – not for a few years,” the talk show host explained.

'And 90 percent of the time I'm very good at it, because a protein diet is good for me anyway. I'm a Texas girl, so I love meat – sorry, vegetarians in the world!'

She looked much thinner in early fall when she returned to her talk show. At the time, she said the change was due to “healthier choices.”

Some have accused her of using Ozempic, but she has yet to admit it.

Rather, she insists it's simply a better environment that helped her shed the pounds.

And she also said that People NYC is just right for her.

'I was very unhappy in LA, and had been for a number of years. I needed a fresh start,” she said.

And she told her talk show producers that she was packing her bags.

“We told NBC, 'I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, I just can't stay here anymore for my mental health; for me and my kids.'

'Things weren't going well for them either. The last few years I just showed up and smiled and did what I had to do, but you can only compartmentalize for so long until you break down.”

Also in her new People cover story, Kelly admitted that she suffered from crippling depression so bad that she had to seek therapy.

Turns out she was in a dark place after divorcing Blackstock, and it took years. Another thing that gets her through the dark times: her music.

“The level of depression and the things that come with divorce or grief are extremely difficult,” she told the outlet.

“You feel alone, and it's just a blessing to have an outlet for the overwhelming emotions.”

Working on her song Chemistry helped her heal.

'I saw nothing other than: this is my outlet. I am a let go person; I don't hold grudges. So it was really a search for what was happening in my life and why – and what am I going to do about it?' she admitted.

“I can't express how grateful I am to have such a healthy outlet.”

Coming out with the new music made her feel like she was “taking my power back,” Clarkson added.

“That sounds very therapy, but that's because I love therapy, and I think it's important to have those tools to navigate your life and relationships.”

Moving from Los Angeles to New York City for season five of her show also made her feel better, saying she just needed a change.

She also talked to her children.

She was thrilled when her children joined her on stage during her Las Vegas residency in August.

“They were a little nervous, but it was their idea, not mine,” Clarkson said.

River sang a duet of her mother's single Heartbeat Song.

Remington danced to Whole Lotta Woman.

She was excited and then seemed like she was a star on stage: “I was like, 'I feel like the way you look at me is how you look at Spider-Man,'” Clarkson said.

'It completely caught me off guard and it was the most magical moment because they were so happy and at ease. They were just impressed.”

Her career is doing better than ever.

Her latest album Chemistry is nominated for best pop vocal album at the Grammys. And her talk show earned six wins at the Daytime Emmy Awards, including outstanding daytime talk show and host for Clarkson.

Then there's the Vegas residency, which has added more shows throughout the winter.

This week's People will be on newsstands on Friday.

This comes just as Clarkson accused her ex Blackstock of telling her she wasn't sexy enough for The Voice.

Kelly filed the claims last year with a California labor commissioner, who ultimately ruled that 47-year-old Brandon Kelly owed $2.6 million for illegally brokering deals that should have been handled by her talent agents.

And in documents obtained by the New York Post's Page Six, Kelly claimed that even though she told Brandon about her desire to become a coach on The Voice, he insisted they were “looking for someone who was more of a sex symbol,” like Rihanna .

When asked by her attorney Ed McPherson how she remembered the specific conversation, Kelly said, “Well, a woman never forgets a time when she's told she's not a sex symbol, so it stays that way.”

She also claimed that Brandon told her that NBC “needed to have someone who was black.” … They had to have something diverse” and that she and Blake Shelton – who was already on the show – “looked too much alike.”

Despite Brandon's claims, Kelly joined The Voice as a coach in 2018.

He testified in court that he was encouraged by two CAA music agents to tell NBC that Kelly was already in talks with ABC to become a judge on “American Idol,” where she first found fame.

He claimed that they encouraged him to meet with NBC Entertainment Chairman Paul Telegdy, claiming that Telegdy did not like agents.

Brandon's attorneys Bryan Freedman and Jesse Kaplan said in a court document: “Crucially and consistent with their negotiating strategy, Blackstock informed Telegdy that American Idol would submit an offer to Clarkson.

In response, Telegdy asked Blackstock, “What would it take.” [to sign Kelly to The Voice]?' Brandon – who also managed Blake Shelton – told Telegdy it would be “somewhere around Blake's money.”