Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s Ex-Husband and Music Manager, Dies at 48 After Cancer Battle
Brandon Blackstock, a respected music talent manager and former husband of singer Kelly Clarkson, has died at the age of 48 after a more than three-year battle with cancer. Known for his deep industry connections and as the former stepson of Reba McEntire, Blackstock leaves behind a legacy defined by both professional achievements and family ties.
In a statement to PEOPLE, a family representative confirmed: “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. 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.”
Blackstock was the father of four children — Savannah and Seth from a previous marriage, and River, 11, and Remington, 9, with Clarkson. He also became a grandfather in 2022 when his eldest daughter Savannah welcomed a son, Lake. In August 2024, Clarkson revealed that Blackstock had been seriously ill, announcing she was postponing her Las Vegas residency to focus on their children. “I need to be fully present for them,” she said, expressing gratitude for her fans’ understanding and compassion.
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Born into a family steeped in country music, Brandon was the son of veteran talent manager Narvel Blackstock and his first wife, Elisa Gayle Ritter. His father’s second marriage to Reba McEntire in 1989 made her his stepmother for over two decades, and their relationship endured even after McEntire and Narvel’s divorce in 2015.
Blackstock first met Clarkson at a 2006 Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsal, but at the time he was married to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. Years later, they reconnected at the 2012 Super Bowl, sparking a romance that led to their wedding in October 2013. Clarkson’s 2015 hit “Piece By Piece” was inspired by the stability she felt with Blackstock, contrasting with the abandonment she experienced from her father.
Professionally, Blackstock followed in his father’s footsteps, managing major artists including Blake Shelton. He eventually took over as Clarkson’s manager after their marriage, a partnership she praised in a 2018 Marie Claire interview, saying she had firsthand seen “how great he is at what he does.”
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However, the couple’s marriage ended in 2020, with their divorce finalized in 2022. Speaking about the split in 2023, Clarkson said: “It wasn’t an overnight decision… 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.”
In one of his final public family moments, Blackstock was photographed at the 2024 Houston Rodeo with his children, his brother Shelby Blackstock, and McEntire.
Brandon Blackstock is survived by his four children, grandson Lake, father Narvel, mother Elisa, siblings Shelby, Shawna, and Chassidy, as well as extended family and friends across the music industry. His passing marks the loss of a figure whose personal and professional life was deeply interwoven with the heart of country music.