Brandon Blackstock, Ex-Husband Of Kelly Clarkson And Blake Shelton’s Former Manager, Passes Away After Cancer Battle

Brandon Blackstock, a longtime talent manager and former husband of renowned singer/songwriter Kelly Clarkson, has died following a private battle with cancer. He was 48 years old.

According to a statement obtained by PEOPLE, Blackstock had been battling cancer for over three years. The family expressed their grief and extended their appreciation for the public’s support amid this difficult time.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a rep for the family told the outlet. “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.”

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This news dropped just one day after Kelly Clarkson announced that she would be postponing the remaining dates of her Las Vegas residency to spend time with her ex-husband and father of her two children, River and Remington.

“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” she wrote on Instagram. “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.”

She concluded her message by offering a sincere apology to ticket holders who were looking forward to the upcoming dates.

“I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”

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Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson first met during rehearsals for the 2006 ACM Awards. At the time, Brandon was still married to his ex-wife Melissa Ashworth while his father, Narvel Blackstock was acting as Clarkson’s manager. He followed in the footsteps of his father and went on to work as a manager of artists like Blake Shelton and Clarkson. He was also the road manager for Rascal Flatts.

“This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, ‘I’m gonna end up with him. I know it,’ ” Clarkson told PEOPLE in 2013.

Blackstock and the “Where Have You Been” singer got reconnected while attending a Super Bowl in early 2012 and sparks began to fly. They tied the knot in October 2013. After seeing how well he worked with Shelton, Clarkson hired Blackstock to be her manager as well.

They welcomed their first daughter River Rose on June 12, 2014, in Nashville followed by a son, Remington “Remy” Alexander, who was born April 12, 2016.

Their love story came to an end in 2020 when Clarkson filed for divorce due to “irreconcilable differences,” according to reports from multiple outlets. However, the split was not finalized until 2022. During that time, the former couple endured multiple legal disputes including the custody of their kids. Clarkson intimately received primary custody of their two children.

Despite the ups and downs of their relationship, Kelly Clarkson prioritized supporting her ex-husband in his final days.  

Blackstock’s connection to the country music world doesn’t stop there. Between 1989 to 2015, country music icon Reba McEntire was married to Blackstock’s father, making him the stepson of McEntire.

In addition to the kids he shared with Clarkson, Blackstock also welcomed two children in a previous marriage, Savannah and Seth. He is survived by all four of his children, along with his grandson Lake, father Narvel Blackstock and siblings Shelby, Shawna and Chassidy.