It’s been four months since Brandon Blackstock, the ex-husband of the singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson, passed away after a private three year battle with cancer.
Brandon was also the former stepson of the country music legend Reba McEntire. Now, Reba is speaking out to honor Brandon on what would have been his 49th birthday.
Reba Honors Her Late Stepson
Reba, 70, took to Instagram on Wednesday to post a photo of herself with Brandon. Joining them in the image were his sisters Shawna and Chassidy, as well as Reba’s son Shelby Blackstock.
“Happy birthday Brandon! We love and miss you a bunch. ❤️❤️❤️,” Reba wrote in the caption.
Shelby, 35, also took to Instagram to honor his late half brother on his birthday.
“I think about you every day, and it’s still hard to believe you’re gone,” Shelby began. “This morning felt strange not making that 5am birthday call just to be the first one. You never know how special those moments are until they’re gone.”
“I know you’re having the best birthday up there— with an endless supply of Coors Lights & your favorite,” Shelby added. “Happy birthday. I love you and miss you so much!!!”
Reba’s History With Brandon
Reba was previously married to Brandon’s father Narvel Blackstock from 1989 until they divorced in 2015. Even after their split, Reba remained close to Brandon and still saw him as her stepson.
“My relationship with my stepson, Brandon Blackstock, was precious,” Reba told People Magazine of Brandon immediately after his death. “I absolutely loved that child. He came into my life, I guess he was 4 years old. Then when Narvel and I got married, he was 13, 14.”
“Along with his mom and dad, I helped raise him, along with [stepkids] Shawna and Chassidy,” she continued. “They were my kids.”
Reba went on to talk about what Brandon was like as a man. She described him as being someone who was “so funny” and loved to “pull pranks.”
“He loved to scare people,” she added. “We’d be at the office there at Starstruck [which was owned by Narvel] in Nashville and I’d be sitting at my desk and I’d see Penny Chubb [a Starstruck Entertainment employee] walk by going to the lady’s room, and then here comes Brandon. He’d hide behind the pillar.”
“Brandon is sorely missed, truly missed with his mischievousness and his love of life,” Reba lamented. “He brought joy to everybody that met him, and we’ll never forget him.”
Brandon’s Death
Brandon died on August 7 after a private three year battle with malignant melanoma.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a rep for his family said at the time. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
In 2021, six years after divorcing his father, Reba told Entertainment Tonight that Brandon was her “son.”
“Although he’s my stepson, I still love him like he’s my total — my blood,” she said at the time.
Brandon was married to the singer and talk show host Kelly Clarkson from 2013 until they split in 2020. During their marriage, they welcomed two children: daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remington, 9. Brandon was also the father of daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth, 18, from a previous marriage.
“The kids are doing well, they’re all bonding together and hanging out with each other, and taking it one day at a time,” Reba told Entertainment Tonight at the Emmy Awards last month.
“We miss him, we miss him every minute,” she later added. “We know God’s got this.”
This has clearly been a very difficult time for Reba, and for the entire Blackstock family. Please join us in saying a prayer for them.
Happy belated heavenly birthday, Brandon Blackstock!