Tragic news emerged recently as Brandon Blackstock, who was the ex-husband of music icon Kelly Clarkson, has passed away at just 48 years old.
In a statement to Entertainment Weekly, a family representative said, “We are deeply saddened to share that Brandon Blackstock has died. He bravely fought cancer for over three years, and he left us peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. We appreciate your thoughts and prayers during this challenging time and ask for privacy for the family.”
Due to this heartbreaking situation, Clarkson had to put her Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace on hold. On August 6, she announced that Blackstock had been ill for the past year, and with their two kids, daughter River Rose and son Remington Alexander, she needed to be there for them. The rescheduled shows will now be held in late July 2026.
Clarkson expressed her sincere apologies to the fans: “I truly regret any inconvenience this causes for those who bought tickets. I’m so grateful for your understanding and kindness during this time.”
Clarkson and Blackstock separated in 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for their split.
A former talent manager, Blackstock was the son of Narvel Blackstock, who managed Clarkson at the start of her career. Additionally, he was the stepson of country music star Reba McEntire, who has been a close friend of Clarkson for years. McEntire was married to Narvel from 1989 to 2015.
Throughout their marriage, Blackstock worked with Clarkson as her music manager and executive producer on her daytime talk show from 2019 to 2020. Following their separation, he reportedly retired from showbiz in 2021, relocating from Los Angeles to Montana to pursue ranching full-time.
The split between Clarkson and Blackstock was quite intense, leading to a prolonged legal battle over custody, spousal support, and property division, which included a ranch they shared in Montana. Ultimately, their divorce was finalized in 2022, with Clarkson receiving primary physical custody of their two children.
Clarkson’s experiences during her separation inspired her 2023 album Chemistry, although she clarified that it isn’t simply a divorce album, but rather a reflection of their relationship. In a conversation with Zane Lowe while promoting her new music, she shared, “I never imagined I would feel love like that. It didn’t work out, but that doesn’t mean everything was terrible; it just means it came to an end differently than we hoped.”
She also reflected about her growth from the experience, saying, “It was really painful, but I think there’s a kind of freedom in realizing, ‘We both need to move on.'”
For more details, check out the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
