Brandon Blackstock, Former Husband of Kelly Clarkson and Stepson of Country Icon Reba McEntire, Dies at 48 After Private Battle with Cancer
The music world is mourning the loss of Brandon Blackstock, a figure whose life quietly bridged pop superstardom and the heart of country music royalty. Brandon died on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48, following a private, three-year battle with cancer. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully, surrounded by those who loved him most.
For more than three years, Brandon fought his illness away from the public eye, choosing to bear the weight of his diagnosis quietly. Those close to him say this was typical of his character — a man who preferred to shield his family from the full force of public scrutiny.
Born in 1977 to music manager Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter, Brandon grew up with music in his blood. His connection to the industry deepened in 1989 when his father married Reba McEntire, making Brandon her stepson. Though Reba and Narvel divorced in 2015, she never stopped speaking of him with love and pride, regarding him as family in every sense of the word.
Following in his father’s footsteps, Brandon became a talent manager, guiding the careers of top artists — among them Blake Shelton, who played a pivotal role in his love story with Kelly Clarkson. In 2012, during one of Blake’s rehearsals, Brandon and Kelly reconnected, and a year later, they were married in an intimate Tennessee ceremony.
For a time, their life together seemed charmed. Kelly spoke often of how Brandon kept her grounded amid fame’s chaos. They welcomed two children — River Rose (now 11) and Remington Alexander (now 9) — while Brandon also remained a devoted father to Savannah and Seth, his children from a previous marriage. In 2022, he became a grandfather when Savannah welcomed a daughter.
But in 2020, their marriage came to an end. Kelly filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences, and the proceedings became one of the most publicized splits in entertainment. In the end, Kelly was awarded primary custody of their children, while Brandon relocated to a ranch in Montana the couple had once shared. There, he left the high-profile music scene behind and embraced a quieter, more private life.
The first sign that something was seriously wrong came just a day before his passing, when Kelly abruptly postponed the remaining dates of her Las Vegas residency, telling fans that a family emergency demanded her full attention. By the next morning, the news broke: Brandon Blackstock was gone.
Since then, tributes have poured in from across the music world. Friends, colleagues, and fans have remembered him not just for his industry achievements, but for his devotion as a father and his quiet strength in the face of illness. Though Reba McEntire has yet to make a public statement, those who know her say the loss will cut deep; she helped raise Brandon from his teenage years, and their bond endured long after the titles of “stepson” and “stepmother” faded.
Brandon is survived by his four children — Savannah, Seth, River, and Remington — and a granddaughter. The family has requested privacy during this time of grief. Kelly Clarkson has also asked fans for patience and understanding as she steps back from public commitments to be present for her children.
From the green rooms of Nashville to the quiet snowfalls of Montana, Brandon Blackstock’s life was one of resilience, devotion, and an enduring connection to the music world. His story is a reminder that some of the most profound legacies are not written in chart-topping hits, but in the lives we touch and the love we leave behind.
And on the evening of his passing, as the Montana sky turned gold, a light glowed from the ranch window where his children had gathered. Inside, a guitar leaned quietly against the wall — the same one Brandon once kept by the fireplace. It will not be played tonight, but its presence will speak for years: of a father, a son, and a man who faced life — and its end — on his own terms.