Earlier this month, we reported that Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock had died at the age of 48. This came after a private three year battle with cancer.
Now, insiders are claiming that Clarkson is feeling “huge guilt” over Blackstock’s death.
Clarkson’s ‘Huge Guilt’ Over Blackstock’s Death
Clarkson, 43, and Blackstock were married from 2013 until she filed for divorce in 2020. It wasn’t until 2022 that their divorce was finalized. It took so long because the former couple bitterly fought over everything from custody to finances to property.
Since it’s known that Blackstock battled cancer for three years prior to his death, he would have been diagnosed with cancer around the time his divorce was finalized. Despite the animosity between them, Clarkson reportedly feels guilty in the wake of Blackstock’s death. Indeed, she can’t help but wonder if the stress of their divorce contributed to him getting sick.
“Kelly is aware of talk that stress can impact the body and make someone more susceptible to cancer,” an insider told Daily Mail. “Although the timing could be purely coincidental, she knows how much tension the divorce and lawsuits put on them.”
“She doesn’t blame herself but she’s conscious that the double whammy of the divorce and the fact that he had to repay her millions of dollars was very tough on him,” the source continued.
‘It Took A Toll On Her…’
Another insider was quick to agree.
“The stress that all this brought is not good for anyone’s health,” this source explained. “She doesn’t want to harp on about what this might have done for Brandon’s health, but it does cross her mind. And it does make her think that maybe she could of done more, even though that is unrealistic at its core.”
Moving forward, Clarkson is focused on the two children that she shares with Blackstock: a daughter River Rose, 11, and a son Remington, 9.
“She separated her personal feelings about Brandon after the divorce, and she progressed from there,” the insider added. “While it was frustrating to deal with him in divorce, once the cancer came into the situation, she felt bad. It took a toll on her because she had to think of her kids’ feelings and to protect them.”
“Now that he is gone, she doesn’t feel great,” the source concluded. “But being there for her kids is helping her to cope with the onslaught of emotions.”
Clarkson Postpones Vegas Shows
Clarkson protected Blackstock’s privacy throughout his cancer battle. Indeed, it wasn’t until the day before his death that Clarkson revealed to the world that he was sick. It was then that she postponed the remainder of her August shows of her Las Vegas residency so that she could be present for Blackstock and their children.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” Kelly said in a statement shared to social media on August 6.
“While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” the original American Idol winner added. “I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”
Blackstock sadly died the next morning on August 7, 2025.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” a rep for Blackstock’s family said in a statement. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
This has clearly been an extremely difficult time for Clarkson and her entire family. Please join us in saying a prayer for them as they continue to mourn this unimaginable loss.