Brandon Blackstock, ex-husband of Kelly Clarkson, has died, family confirms
Talent manager Brandon Blackstock, the ex-husband of singer Kelly Clarkson and father of her two children, has died at 48 after a long battle with cancer, his representative said.
"It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away," a representative for his family confirmed to ABC News on Thursday. "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."
Clarkson had two children -- daughter River, 10, and son Remy, 8 -- with Blackstock.
Blackstock had two more children, Savannah and Seth, from a previous marriage. In 2022, Blackstock became a grandfather when his eldest Savannah had her first son, Lake.
Clarkson married Blackstock in 2013. The "American Idol" winner filed for divorce in 2020 citing irreconcilable differences.
Clarkson pauses residency
Clarkson had announced Wednesday night she would pause her residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas amid Blackstock's health issues in order to be "fully present" for her kids.
"Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas," the singer announced on social media. "While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them."
She continued, "I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding."
Blackstock was also the stepson of Reba McEntire, when she was previously married to his father, Narvel Blackstock until 2015.
Clarkson, 43, had four dates remaining this month of her eponymous shows Aug. 8 to 9 and 15 to 16.
The Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions -- The Las Vegas Residency are still listed on the Caesars Palace entertainment website for the fall from Nov. 7 to 8 and 14 to 15.
The Colosseum also shared Clarkson's update on its social media pages, along with an explanation of more details to come from Ticketmaster and refund options.
Fans impacted by Clarkson's cancellations can choose to hold on to their tickets for 2026 performances. There is a 30-day window for those who prefer a refund.
"Thank you everyone for your understanding. We hope the best for Kelly and her family," the venue stated in a caption on Instagram.
There are six dates currently scheduled for July and August 2026.
Earlier this spring, Andy Cohen, Molly Sims, Kal Penn and others stepped in to guest host for Clarkson on her talk show following a string of absences.
Though she missed a number of episodes in late February through March, Clarkson did not address the absence at the time or provide further comment.
