Brandon Blackstock, Talent Manager and Kelly Clarkson’s Ex-Husband, Dies at 48

Brandon Blackstock, Talent Manager and Kelly Clarkson’s Ex-Husband, Dies at 48
Brandon Blackstock (L) and Kelly Clarkson appear at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on May 20, 2018. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP Photo
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Brandon Blackstock, a longtime talent manager and former husband of singer Kelly Clarkson, has died following a prolonged battle with cancer. He was 48.

Blackstock’s family confirmed his passing in a statement Thursday, saying he died peacefully while surrounded by loved ones.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” a family representative said. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

The news of Blackstock’s death comes just a day after Clarkson announced she would be postponing the remainder of her Las Vegas residency shows to be with her children. In a statement posted to social media, she wrote, “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.”

“I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,” she added.

Blackstock and Clarkson were married in October 2013 and share two children together: daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remington Alexander, 9. He also had two children from a previous marriage and became a grandfather in 2022.

A seasoned figure in the entertainment industry, Blackstock had a long career in artist management. He previously represented country singer Blake Shelton and managed Clarkson during part of their marriage. His father, Narvel Blackstock, also worked as Clarkson’s manager for several years and was formerly married to country music star Reba McEntire.

“I wouldn’t have hired Brandon to be my manager if I didn’t see first-hand how great he is at that and how much he cares about Blake,” Clarkson said in a 2018 interview with Marie Claire. “And the way that [Blake’s] career has blown up, I would have hired Brandon regardless. He’s really talented at what he does and his mind really does work in a completely different way.”

Clarkson and Blackstock met in 2006 during a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards, but they didn’t begin a relationship until reconnecting several years later. Their marriage ended after Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalized in 2022.

Following their split, Clarkson described the decision as painful but necessary.

“I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen,” she said in a 2023 interview on the Angie Martinez IRL Podcast.

Blackstock is survived by his four children, grandson, father, mother, and three siblings.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Haika Mrema
Haika Mrema
Author
Haika Mrema is a freelance entertainment reporter for The Epoch Times. She is an experienced writer and has covered entertainment and higher-education content for platforms such as Campus Reform and Media Research Center. She holds a B.B.A. from Baylor University where she majored in marketing.