Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock dead at 48

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Kelly Clarkson is mourning the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

The talent manager — whose family was pivotal in her career — died at the age of 48 after a private cancer battle.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” his family said in a statement obtained by The Post on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock attend the 2018 CMT Music Awards. FilmMagic

“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,” they concluded.

The Post reached out to Clarkson’s rep for comment.

Blackstock’s passing comes just hours after the “Since U Been Gone” singer abruptly postponed the remaining Aug. shows of her “Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions — The Las Vegas Residency” at Caesars Palace.

The decision marked the second time she canceled her residency concerts since they started last month.

Clarkson married Blackstock in 2013, and they share two children: daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9.

Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock with his two oldest children from his first marriage and his kids with the singer. Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock first met at the Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsal in 2006 and reconnected years later. REUTERS

The Grammy winner filed for divorce after seven years of marriage in 2020. The exes went through a nasty battle, which included fighting over custody of the kids and their Montana ranch, and ultimately settled their divorce in 2022.

Blackstock was the former stepson of Reba McEntire. The country superstar was married to his father, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015.

On Wednesday, Clarkson shared a heartbreaking statement, revealing her ex-husband’s illness.

Brandon Blackstock had been battling a secret cancer fight for more than 3 years, his family revealed after his death.
Kelly Clarkson canceled the rest of her Aug. residency shows on Wednesday. Christopher Polk

“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” Clarkson wrote via her Instagram, just two days before she was set to take the stage.

“While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” the singer added.

“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”

This marked the second time she abruptly postponed her residency shows since July. Instagram/@kellyclarkson

Clarkson also mysteriously postponed the first two shows of her residency in July, announcing the news just 90 minutes before showtime.

Sources told Page Six at the time that she had “hidden battles that very few people are privy to,” adding, “it’s a source of emotional and therefore physical distress for her.”

They added: “Kelly’s personal life is so insanely complicated.”

The singer sounded the alarm when she missed 10 episodes of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in March. Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
“He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” his loved ones’ statement read. AP

The singer-songwriter first sparked concern when she missed 10 episodes of her syndicated talk show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” in March, with her A-list friends stepping in to cover her hosting gig.

While she later cited a personal matter, insiders shared that behind the scenes, her personal life was unraveling due to Blackstock’s ailing health.

“It’s been exhausting and so sad… ” a source told Page Six. “Kelly has been working so hard, as well as looking after Brandon. Despite their difficult divorce, he’s still the man she loved and still her kids’ father.”

Sources told Page Six that Clarkson took time off earlier this year to care for her ex-husband. Getty Images for ACM
“Despite their difficult divorce, he’s still the man she loved and still her kids’ father,” one insider said. WireImage

They also noted that Clarkson took time off to help care for her ex-husband in his time of need.

Before Clarkson, Blackstock was married to Melissa Ashworth from 2001 to 2012. The pair shared two kids: daughter, Savannah, and son Seth, 18.

Savannah shared several photos of her father on social media in March during a family outing, which included his brother Shelby, McEntire, 70, and her longtime partner, Rex Linn.

Brandon Blackstock seen with his family in March, including his ex-stepmom Reba McEntire. shelbyblackstock/Instagram
Blackstock leaves behind four children and one grandchild. shelbyblackstock/Instagram

Blackstock’s children with Clarkson also appeared in some of the pictures.

The “Fancy” singer is Shelby’s mother and the only child she shares with Blackstock’s father.

Clarkson and her ex first met at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006 when his dad, Navel, was her manager and Blackstock was married to Melissa.

Brandon Blackstock’s father, Navel, was previously married to the “Fancy” singer and managed Kelly Clarkson until she wed Brandon in 2013. shelbyblackstock/Instagram

However, they didn’t reconnect until years later at the Super Bowl. 

After their wedding, Blackstock became Clarkson’s manager. He also managed her former “Voice” co-star Blake Shelton’s career until his divorce from the star.

“I wouldn’t have hired Brandon to be my manager if I didn’t see first-hand how great he is at that and how much he cares about Blake,” Clarkson told Marie Claire in 2018. “And the way that [Blake’s] career has blown up, I would have hired Brandon regardless. He’s really talented at what he does and his mind really does work in a completely different way.”

Brandon Blackstock also managed Clarkson’s good friend and former “Voice” co-star Blake Shelton. Getty Images
Kelly Clarkson with the two kids she shared with Blackstock: daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. kellyclarkson/Instagram

The “Because of You” singer, who had primary custody of their two children, has opened up about the emotional toll she faced after their split.

“I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn’t an overnight decision,” she revealed in 2023. “I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen.”

Clarkson also got brutally honest, telling Apple Music that same year, “I did not handle [the divorce] well.”

Brandon Blackstock with his children and family in March. shelbyblackstock/Instagram

Blackstock became a grandfather in 2022 when his oldest child, Savannah, welcomed her son.

The former music manager is survived by his sons Seth and Remington, daughters Savannah and River, grandson Lake, father Narvel and siblings Shelby, Shawna and Chassidy.


Content shared from nypost.com.

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