Kelly Clarkson’s Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock Passes Away at 48 After Private Cancer Battle

Brandon Blackstock’s life was one that wove together music industry success, high-profile love, family devotion, and, in the end, a quiet, determined fight against cancer that he kept largely out of the public eye.

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The former talent manager, known to most as Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and to country fans as the former stepson of Reba McEntire, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones after more than three years battling melanoma. He was 48. His family’s statement to PEOPLE described him as having faced the illness with bravery, thanking friends, fans, and the industry for their respect and privacy during such a personal fight.

In early August, Clarkson had given the first public glimpse into the situation, postponing her Las Vegas residency and explaining that “my children’s father has been ill” and she needed to be fully present for their kids, River Rose and Remington Alexander. It was an uncharacteristic step into personal territory for the singer, who usually keeps family matters private, but it underscored the seriousness of what was happening behind the scenes.

Blackstock’s world extended beyond his two children with Clarkson. He also leaves behind daughter Savannah and son Seth from a previous marriage and became a grandfather when Savannah welcomed a baby boy, Lake, in 2022. Just last year, he was photographed with River and Remington at the Houston Rodeo alongside his brother Shelby and Shelby’s mother, Reba, a rare public moment that now feels even more poignant.

Born into the music business, Brandon was the son of Narvel Blackstock, who built Starstruck Entertainment into one of country music’s powerhouse management companies. He carved out his own career as a respected talent manager, working with artists like Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts, and eventually managing Clarkson herself. She later said she would not have hired him if she had not already seen firsthand how deeply he cared about his clients and how sharp his instincts were in guiding a career.

Kelly Clarkson first met Brandon back in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards, when he was still married to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. Years later, they reconnected at Super Bowl XLVI and began dating in early 2012. By October 2013, they were married in Tennessee, and for a time, they seemed like one of the industry’s golden couples. Clarkson’s heartfelt 2015 ballad “Piece by Piece” was inspired in part by the stability she felt in their relationship, especially in contrast to the abandonment she experienced from her father.