Kelly Clarkson gets moving advice from friend Dolly Parton after the death of ex-husband Brandon Blackstock
Parton's advice for the 43-year-old singer came from a place of experience, as she lost her husband, Carl Dean, just five months earlier.
Dean, who eschewed the spotlight, died in March at 82 after being married to the 79-year-old country music icon for 58 years.
Parton's shared her words of advice shortly after her friend and fellow country singer Reba McEntire — who was Blackstock's former stepmother — broke her silence about his death.
Blackstock's father, film producer Narvel Blackstock, was married to McEntire from 1989–2015, and they share a son, Blackstock's half-brother Shelby, 35.
In a short video interview with Entertainment Tonight, Parton urged Kelly and Reba to focus on the happier memories they had of their late loved one.
'I think that you just have to be grateful for the years that you've had with someone, and just try to remember the very best of all that,' Parton said.
She suggested that those dealing with grief should take the 'energy' from those better times in the past and 'just recycle that' and 'let that become a part of you.'
Parton added that Clarkson and McEntire should 'honor their memory,' and the popular singers could take comfort in knowing that their loved ones 'are in a better place than we are these days.'
The 9 To 5 singer was also asked about whether she had contacted Clarkson yet to share her condolences after her ex-husband's death.
'No, I have not,' Parton said, adding that she had been so busy promoting her new memoir Star Of The Show: My Life On Stage that she hadn't had a chance to contact the former American Idol winner.
'But I will, I'll catch up with her,' Parton added.
She also noted that she would have a chance to see McEntire soon in the flesh, as they were going to be working together on the day the interview was taped to handle publicity for her new book.
'I love Reba and I love Kelly,' Parton declared, before delving into how difficult it is to keep up with her friends in show business.
'I have a lot of friends in the business,' the singer–songwriter continued, adding that she doesn't often 'get to really visit them.'
'People always say, "Who are your best friends?" I always say, "Well, my best friends are my family, my sisters,"' she explained. 'I don't have time to get out and socialize.'
Blackstock looked frail when he was last pictured in March of this year at the Houston Rodeo in a group photo featuring McEntire and his daughter Savannah — from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth — who held his grandson Lake on her lap.
In March, Parton suffered a tragedy closer to home when her longtime husband Carl Dean died on March 3 after nearly 60 years of marriage.
In her heartbreaking tribute, the singer reflected on the 'many wonderful years' the pair spent together as she expressed her deep love for Dean and thanked fans for their prayers.
'Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,' Parton wrote.
The couple had been married since 1966.
In 2024, Parton gave a rare glimpse into her marriage and revealed why her 'homebody' husband refused to attend public events with her.
'Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,' Parton wrote. They had been married since 1966, but Dean was a 'homebody' and avoided public appearances with her
Speaking on an episode of Bunnie Xo's Dumb Blonde Podcast, the star revealed that while her husband 'loves' music, he wass 'not the least bit interested in being in it.'
While looking back an an important early event in their marriage, Parton revealed that she had convinced her husband to join her at an awards show in 1967, where she won BMI Song of the Year.
Despite her triumph, Dean was miserable at the event, and she recalled him telling her afterward: 'I wish you the best, but don't ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain't going.'
True to his word, Dean never joined her at another awards show and stayed out of the spotlight, though that didn't seem to have diminished her love for him in the least.
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