Brandon Blackstock Dies at 48 After Private Cancer Fight
Brandon Blackstock, a longtime music manager and father of four who was once married to pop star Kelly Clarkson, has passed away at the age of 48 following a discreet, three-year battle with cancer. According to his family, he died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
Born into the heart of country music, Blackstock was the son of well-known manager Narvel Blackstock and, later, the stepson of country legend Reba McEntire. From an early age, he had a front-row seat to the workings of the entertainment business. Rather than chasing fame himself, he built a career managing artists and guiding their careers from behind the scenes.
His first encounter with Clarkson came in 2006 during rehearsals for the Academy of Country Music Awards. Years later, fate brought them together again at the Super Bowl, leading to a romance that culminated in their 2013 wedding. The pair welcomed two children — River Rose and Remington Alexander — and, for a time, appeared to live a storybook romance that inspired Clarkson’s emotional hit song Piece by Piece.
However, in 2020, the marriage came to an end amid a very public and contentious divorce. The split involved disputes over their Montana ranch, custody arrangements, and significant financial settlements. Clarkson was ordered to pay a lump sum, along with ongoing child and spousal support.
In 2023, Blackstock faced a legal setback when a California labor commissioner ruled he had violated the state’s Talent Agencies Act, ordering him to return $2.6 million to Clarkson. Several other lawsuits followed, though both parties dropped their remaining claims in 2024. Unknown to most, Blackstock was already contending with a life-threatening illness during this period of legal turmoil.
His family revealed that only a small circle knew about his diagnosis, describing him as courageous and determined to face the disease privately. News of his death sent ripples through the music community, shocking friends and colleagues.
Kelly Clarkson has since paused her Las Vegas residency to be with their children during this period of mourning.
Brandon Blackstock is survived by his four children, one grandchild, and a legacy marked by both personal triumphs and controversies — remembered as a man deeply embedded in the music industry, shaped by famous family ties, and defined in his final years by quiet resilience.