Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock has died at the age of 48 after a private battle with cancer. The talent manager passed away on August 7, surrounded by family members. A family representative confirmed that Blackstock had been fighting cancer for more than three years without making his illness public.
The death has been particularly hard for Clarkson, who shared two children with Blackstock. River, 11, and Remington, 9, have lost their father during what was already a difficult time following their parents’ divorce. The singer has been focused on supporting her children through this tragic period.
According to a source close to the family, when Clarkson learned about Blackstock’s illness, she “remained protective of him for their sake.” The source explained that despite their difficult divorce, Clarkson always tried to keep things respectful. “She always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad,” the source told People magazine.
Clarkson puts children first during this difficult time
Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in 2020 after seven years of marriage, reportedly after recognizing major red flags in their relationship. Their split was finalized two years later and involved various legal battles over custody and financial settlements. However, sources say that Clarkson never spoke badly about Blackstock to their children, even during the most challenging times in their relationship.
The singer has been open about the challenges of co-parenting after divorce. In 2023, she shared how she regularly checked in with her children about their feelings. “I ask my kids every night when we’re snuggling and I put them to bed, ‘Are you happy? And if you’re not, what could make you happier?'” she said on a podcast. She admitted that her children often expressed sadness about their parents not living in the same house.
Brandon Blackstock, ex-husband of Kelly Clarkson and former manager, has passed away at 48 following battle with cancer. pic.twitter.com/y6krqnLdOl
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 7, 2025
Clarkson also revealed that she understood her children’s pain because she came from a divorced family herself. She would tell them, “That sucks. But we’re going to work it out. And you are so loved by both of us.” The singer emphasized that both she and Blackstock agreed on the main things when it came to raising their children, even though co-parenting from different locations was difficult.
Just one day before Blackstock’s death was announced, Clarkson posted on Instagram that she was postponing her Las Vegas shows. She explained that her children’s father had been ill and she needed to be “fully present” for them. She also missed several episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show earlier this year due to Blackstock’s condition.
Blackstock was also father to two older children, Savannah and Seth, from a previous marriage. He became a grandfather in 2022 when Savannah had a son named Lake. The family had been seen together as recently as March 2024 at the Houston Rodeo, where Blackstock posed with River and Remington.
The couple first met in 2006 at an Academy of Country Music Awards rehearsal, though Blackstock was married to someone else at the time. They reconnected years later and married in October 2013. Blackstock, who was also Blake Shelton’s manager, became Clarkson’s manager after their wedding. He was the stepson of country music star Reba McEntire through his father Narvel Blackstock’s marriage to the singer.
