Brandon Blackstock, Former Husband of Kelly Clarkson and Stepson of Country Legend Reba McEntire, Dies at 48 After Private Cancer Battle
The world of music is in mourning after the death of Brandon Blackstock, a man whose life was woven into both pop stardom and the heart of country royalty. Brandon passed away on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48, following a private, three-year battle with cancer. According to a family representative, he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
For more than three years, Brandon fought his illness away from the public eye. He chose silence over spectacle, privacy over public updates — a choice that those closest to him say came from his deep desire to shield his family from more pain than they were already facing.
Born in 1977, Brandon was the son of music manager Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter. When Narvel married Reba McEntire in 1989, Brandon was just 13. Though Reba and Narvel divorced in 2015, she often spoke of her love for Brandon as if he were her own son, a bond that never faded.
Brandon followed in his father’s footsteps, working in artist management and eventually running his own company. He guided the careers of several major acts, including Blake Shelton — the same man whose rehearsal in 2012 brought Brandon back into the orbit of Kelly Clarkson.
Kelly and Brandon married in October 2013, and for a time, their union appeared like a modern country fairy tale. Kelly often praised Brandon publicly, crediting him with being her anchor in the whirlwind of fame. Together, they had two children: River Rose (now 11) and Remington Alexander (now 9). Brandon also had two children, Savannah and Seth, from a previous marriage, and in 2022, he became a grandfather.
But by 2020, cracks in the marriage became public. Kelly filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, and what followed was a contentious legal battle over property, custody, and financial arrangements. Kelly was ultimately awarded primary custody of their two children, while Brandon relocated to Montana, settling on a ranch they had once shared. There, he stepped away from his management career and embraced a quieter life.
In the final days before his passing, the first sign of something deeply wrong came when Kelly abruptly postponed the remaining dates of her Las Vegas residency on August 6 — just one day before Brandon’s death. She told fans that a family emergency required her full attention and that she needed to be with her children.
Since the news broke, tributes have flooded social media. Fans have remembered his deep ties to Reba McEntire, who helped raise him, and industry friends have praised his professionalism and loyalty. Reba has not yet made a public statement, but those who know her well say this loss will be felt like family — because that’s what he was to her.
Brandon leaves behind four children, a granddaughter, and a legacy that extends far beyond the headlines of his marriage to Kelly Clarkson. He was a man who built his life in the music industry, who fought his illness with quiet courage, and who, even in his final days, put the privacy and well-being of his loved ones first.
The Blackstock family has asked for privacy during this time of grief. Kelly Clarkson has requested patience and understanding from fans as she steps back from public appearances to focus on her children.
From the boardrooms of Nashville to the stillness of his Montana ranch, Brandon Blackstock’s story is one of resilience, love, and a life lived at the crossroads of fame and family. His passing is a reminder that even those who stand just outside the spotlight can leave an impact that endures.