Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock has sadly lost his three-year-long battle with cancer. The American talent manager’s family confirmed his death on Thursday, August 8. He was 48 years old.
The “Breakaway” hit-maker and Blackstock shared two children, while the latter also had two other children from a previous marriage. The sad news of his passing comes shortly after singer Kelly Clarkson announced that she would be pushing her Las Vegas residency shows back.
At the time, she merely hinted at her former partner suffering with a serious illness. “This past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she shared while announcing the postponement of the remaining August shows of her residency.
In a statement shared with TMZ, sourced said that Blackstock passed away “peacefully” as he was surrounded by family. The note further confirmed that he had battling cancer for more than three years. He is believed to have been afflicted by melanoma (or “black tumour”), which the Cleveland Clinic describes as “the most invasive skin cancer with the highest risk of death.”
What we know about Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson’s relationship
The pair started dating in 2012 after met through Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, who is also a talent manager. They first crossed path a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006. At the time, Brandon was still married to Melissa Ashworth.
The older Blackstock had managed the American Idol star for years. Eventually, his son took over the post and stayed in it during his and Clarkson’s subsequent marriage. Brandon was even Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts’ manager, which ultimately spurred Kelly to hired him as her own.
After reconnecting at Super Bowl XLVI, Kelly and Brandon tied the knot in 2013 and later went on to welcome their daughter River Rose a year later and their son Remington Alexander in 2016. Blackstock was also father son Seth and daughter Savannah (who, in turn, gave birth her son Luke in 2020) from his past marriage.
The 43-year-old songstress’ relationship with Blackstock inspired her 2015 song “Piece By Piece,” presenting a contrast to her ties with her father.
Its lyrics go: “Piece by piece, he collected me / Up off the ground where you abandoned things / Piece by piece, he filled the holes / That you burned in me at 6 years old,” she sings. “And you know, he never walks away / He never asks for money / He takes care of me / He loves me / Piece by piece, he restored my faith / That a man can be kind, and a father could stay.”
Despite the stability she felt at the time, she called it quits on her nearly seven-year marriage to the talent manager in 2020. Given the fallout, Clarkson looked back at her old song in the track “Me” off her 2023 album “Chemistry.” Therein, she sung: “I don’t need somebody to hold me / Don’t need somebody to love me / Don’t need somebody to pick these pieces up,” she sings. “I put together my broken / Let go of the pain I’ve been holdin’ / Don’t need to need somebody / When I got me.”
Brandon Blackstock-Kelly Clarkson’s messy divorce
Citing irreconcilable difference, Clarkson filed for divorce in Los Angeles, which was finalised in March 2022. Kelly was granted primary custody of her two kids. Moreover, she was asked to pay her former spouse $1.3 million, $45,000 per month in child support and $115,000 a month in spousal support until January 31, 2024.
Their messy legal entanglement also aligned with a California Labor Commission dispute, which Clarkson won against her ex-husband and Starstruck Management – the company his father founded and where his own career started, as per Forbes. Brandon was accused of illegally working as a talent agent without a license.
Blackstock, who held a producer credit on The Kelly Clarkson Show and the TV music special Blake Shelton Live: It’s All About Tonight, was eventually ordered to give Kelly $2.6 million in commission he made from her contracts with The Voice, the Billboard Music Awards, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Wayfair. The late Blackstock had a net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Brandon Blackstock’s stepmom was…
The late talent manager’s stepmother was country music legend Reba McIntire for over 25 years during the course of her past marriage with Narvel Blackstock. The music icon, regarded as the ‘Queen of Country,’ is a close friend of Clarkson.
Despite losing out on the connection with Narvel following their 2015 divorce, McIntire remained close to Brandon.
In addition to his children and grandchild, Blackstock is survived by his father Narvel Blackstock, mother Elisa Gayle Ritter and siblings Shelby, Shawna and Chassidy.