Earlier today, we reported that Kelly Clarkson had postponed the remaining August shows of her Las Vegas residency. She announced that she was doing this because her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock was sick with an unspecified illness.
Now, Blackstock has sadly passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 48 years-old.
Blackstock Passes Away
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a rep for the family told People Magazine.
“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” the statement added. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
Clarkson revealed on Wednesday that Blackstock was sick. Though she didn’t specify the type of illness, she revealed that she needed to postpone her Las Vegas residency to spend more time with their two children River, 11, and Remington, 9.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” Clarkson, 43, wrote on social media.
“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,” she continued. “I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”
Full Story: Kelly Clarkson Cancels Concerts As She Makes Heartbreaking Announcement About Ex-Husband’s Health
Blackstock’s History
Blackstock was also the father of two other children, Savannah and Seth, from a previous marriage. He became a grandfather in 2022 when Savannah gave birth to a baby boy who she named Luke.
Back in March, Blackstock was seen with River and Remington in photos at the Houston Rodeo. They were there with Blackstock’s brother Shelby and Reba McEntire, who is Shelby’s mother. McEntire was married to Blackstock’s father Narvel from 1989 until they divorced in 2015. This makes Blackstock her former stepson.
Narvel was Clarkson’s manager for many years. She met her future husband at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May of 2006. At the time, Blackstock was still married to his first wife Melissa Ashworth, so nothing initially came of it. However, he still made quite an impression on Clarkson.
“This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, ‘I’m gonna end up with him. I know it,'” Clarkson later told People Magazine in a 2013 interview.
Blackstock And Clarkson Reconnect
Years later, Blackstock and Clarkson reunited at the Super Bowl. By then, they were both single, and sparks immediately flew. They married in October of 2013.
“This isn’t a downer to anybody I dated before him, but I’m just going to be real: I never felt like, honestly, sexually attracted to anybody before him,” Clarkson said in a 2017 interview. “And I’m not downing my exes. You know, everybody’s different. But there was something about him.”
Blackstock, who was also Blake Shelton’s manager, became Clarkson’s manager after their marriage.
“I wouldn’t have hired Brandon to be my manager if I didn’t see first-hand how great he is at that and how much he cares about Blake,” Clarkson told Marie Claire in 2018. “And the way that [Blake’s] career has blown up, I would have hired Brandon regardless. He’s really talented at what he does and his mind really does work in a completely different way.”
Related: Kelly Clarkson Cancels Concerts As She Makes Heartbreaking Announcement About Ex-Husband’s Health
Clarkson And Blackstock’s Divorce
Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in June of 2020. A messy divorce ensued, with the two of them being embroiled in legal battles for years.
“I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn’t an overnight decision,” Clarkson said of their split in 2023. She went on to say that she “wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen.”
That same year, Clarkson admitted that her children were still hoping that she’d reconcile with Blackstock.
“My kids just came back from my ex and any time there’s mention of maybe him being with somebody else… they are just really adamant about keeping that dream alive that we might still be together one day,” she confessed.
Blackstock is survived by his four children, his grandson, his father, and his three siblings. Rest in peace, Brandon Blackstock.
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