Talent manager Brandon Blackstock had “bravely battled cancer for more than three years” when he died at 48 years old.
His health condition was shared in a statement from the Blackstock family, obtained by USA TODAY on Aug. 7.
“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. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” the statement read.
Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson, who were married for seven years until their June 2020 divorce, share two children: River Rose Blackstock, 11, and Remington “Remy” Alexander Blackstock, 9. He also has two children from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth: Savannah and Seth Blackstock.
In the evening of Aug. 6, a day before Blackstock’s family shared the news of his death, Clarkson announced the upcoming dates of her Las Vegas residency would be postponed because “this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”
Clarkson previously stepped away from her work earlier this year when she took a nearly two-week absence from “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in March. At the time, neither she nor the show commented on the nature of her break, which saw guest hosts such as Roy Wood Jr., Wanda Sykes, Brooke Shields and Josh Groban fill in for her role.
Brandon Blackstock’s death: Talent manager, also Reba McEntire’s stepson, dies at 48
Brandon Blackstock’s cancer
In their Aug. 7 statement, the Blackstock family did not specify the nature of his disease and indicated they would not be issuing further comments in the near future.
“We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time,” the statement read.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s marriage, children and divorce
The couple married at Tennessee’s Blackberry Farms in 2013, and about eight months later, they welcomed their firstborn, daughter River Rose. Remy arrived a little less than two years later, in April 2016.
In June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Legal battles over custody of their children, unlawful commission fees paid to Blackstock and ownership of their Montana property, Warren Peak Ranch, ensued.
Their divorce was finalized in March 2022.
“I was very, very angry. I know a lot of people have gone through grief or a big tragedy like a divorce and I know it’s a common thing, unfortunately. But there’s nothing common when you’re going through it,” Clarkson told USA TODAY in 2023 about the making of the songs on her album, “Chemistry.”
“It’s very foreign, it’s horrible. A lot of times, stupid, stupid (stuff) gets said and you just can’t believe it.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brandon Blackstock battled cancer for 3 years before death at 48
