Breaking her silence.
Final week, it was introduced that Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and well-known leisure expertise supervisor, has sadly handed away at 48. He was the daddy to her two younger youngsters River, 11, and Remington, 9, and he additionally had two grownup youngsters from a earlier marriage, Savannah and Seth. He grew to become a grandfather in 2022 when his eldest baby Savannah gave delivery to a son, Lake.
Blackstock was additionally the stepson of Reba McEntire, as Reba was married to Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, for a few years, from 1989 to 2015.
A rep for the household gave a press release to PEOPLE, confirming his passing and saying he had been battling most cancers for “greater than three years.” In addition they thanked the followers for his or her ideas and prayers, and requested for privateness throughout this very troublesome time:
“It’s with nice unhappiness that we share the information that Brandon Blackstock has handed away. Brandon bravely battled most cancers for greater than three years. He handed away peacefully and was surrounded by household. We thanks in your ideas and prayers and ask everybody to respect the household’s privateness throughout this very troublesome time.”
Brandon had been combating melanoma, and he and Clarkson went by means of a nasty divorce a number of years in the past, as Clarkson filed for divorce from him again in 2020. They lastly settled their divorce in 2022 after a longtime custody battle over their two youngsters, although the battle made headlines for years and it appeared as if they weren’t on good phrases.
Clarkson and Blackstock have been married from 2013 till 2022, and so they first met in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Nation Music Awards, when Blackstock was working as Rascal Flatts’ tour supervisor. Six years later, they reconnected on the Tremendous Bowl and started courting. Blackstock later grew to become Blake Shelton’s supervisor, in addition to Clarkson’s whereas they have been collectively.
And although Clarkson and Blackstock have been not married, and had been by means of a horrible divorce, a supply instructed Web page Six that Clarkson has been taking care of him whereas attempting to work and hold her residency, in addition to in style daytime TV present, alive. They defined that Blackstock was “the person she liked” and nonetheless the daddy to her youngsters:
“It’s been exhausting and so unhappy… Kelly has been working so arduous, in addition to taking care of Brandon. Regardless of their troublesome divorce, he’s nonetheless the person she liked and nonetheless her youngsters’ father.”
It’s so tragic for his younger youngsters, and I do know Kelly and the remainder of his household, together with Reba, are completely devastated.
Lots of Blackstock’s family and friends have shared tributes and recollections of him, together with Reba’s solely organic son and Brandon’s half brother Shelby. He posted a prolonged Instagram cation and assortment of images, calling it a “large loss,” along with talking about how a lot he realized from his large brother and what their bond meant to him:
“Phrases can’t start to seize the large loss our household has endured. Yesterday, we misplaced a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son. Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable a part of our household—humorous, shiny, and lively—and he shall be deeply missed.
He taught me a lot, abandoning numerous cherished recollections that I’ll maintain onto without end. For each treasured second we shared, there are such a lot of extra we’ll by no means get to make collectively, however I do know you’ll nonetheless be there. Each hunt, each flight, and within the on a regular basis moments of life, I’ll really feel your presence.
And though it could annoy you, you’ll have to look at me do all of it just a bit higher, a little bit smoother, and —let’s be sincere— wanting way more good-looking than you ever might within the course of. We’ll all the time miss you, Brandon, and we are going to by no means cease loving, remembering and celebrating you.”
It’s all simply so unhappy, nevertheless it’s clear how a lot Brandon meant to these closest to him.
Throughout a 2021 interview with Leisure Tonight, Reba mentioned she liked Brandon “like he’s my blood”:
“Brandon’s been my son without end, it looks like. Though he’s my stepson, I nonetheless love him like he’s my blood.”
She was like a mother to him, and knew him from a younger age, as a result of she married his father when Brandon was simply 13 years outdated. The couple have been married for 26 years earlier than their divorce, and he or she broke her silence on the loss on her son’s Instagram publish.
She left a touch upon Shelby’s heartfelt tribute and assortment of images, saying merely that she’s going to “miss him a lot”:
“Very effectively mentioned Shelby. Sure we are going to miss him a lot.”
It’s simply heartbreaking, however hopefully the household is ready to discover peace within the recollections they shared and realizing he’s in a greater place now, as Mrs. Dolly Parton put it.
