Dolly Parton has shared her advice to Kelly Clarkson, after the singer’s ex-husband died last week.
Kelly’s ex Brandon Blackstock passed away at 48-years-old, following a three-year battle with cancer.
Dolly’s husband Carl Dean passed away in March, and during an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Dolly was asked if she had any advice for Kelly on navigating grief.
“Well, I think that you just had to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone, and you just try to remember the very best of all that, take the energy they’d given you then, and just kind of recycle that, and let that become a part of you,” the country legend responded.
“And just honour their memory and remember they’re in a better place than we are, these days.”
Clarkson was married to talent manager Brandon Blackstock from 2013 to 2022. The couple share two children: daughter River and son Remington. They separated in 2020 and finalised their divorce two years later.
His obituary has also revealed he was in a relationship with Kelly’s ex-assistant Brittney Marie Jones.
The obit read: “Brandon, along with his beautiful and loving partner in life and business, Brittney Marie Jones, started building a life, building companies, and working tirelessly to create Headwaters Livestock Auction and what will live on as his legacy, The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana.”
Kelly was not mentioned in the obit, but their two children, daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9, were.
The heartbreaking news of his passing came after Kelly postponed the remainder of her Las Vegas residency, citing a family emergency involving her the music manager’s health.
In a statement posted last week, Starstruck Entertainment, the agency where he worked, said: "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.
"We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time."
In a January 2024 interview with People, Kelly described how her 2023 album Chemistry helped her process the emotional aftermath of the split.
“I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet,” the former American Idol winner said.
“Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it’s just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming.”
