Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock: A love story that hit the high notes… and the lows
's ex-husband and former music manager, sadly passed away at the age of 48 after a private battle with cancer. The news came as a shock to many, especially since his health struggles were kept mostly out of the public eye.
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Known for his ties to the music industry and being part of Kelly's life for nearly a decade, his
has left fans reflecting on their complicated journey together.
Let's rewind to the early 2000s. Kelly Clarkson was fresh off her massive American Idol win, quickly becoming one of the biggest voices in pop and country music. She was thriving on the charts but not exactly lucky in love. That all changed in 2006 when she met Brandon Blackstock, music manager, cowboy hat enthusiast, and stepson of none other than Reba McEntire.
Yes, that Reba.
At the time, Brandon was actually married, so nothing happened romantically. Fast forward to 2012, they reconnected (he was now single), sparks flew, and things moved fast. We're talking 'head-over-heels, fairy-tale montage' fast.
From sparks to 'I do'
By December 2012, they were engaged. Kelly was over the moon. In October 2013, they tied the knot in a stunning (and very private) ceremony in Tennessee. It wasn't the celebrity circus kind of wedding, it was small, sweet, and very 'them.'
Not long after, they welcomed two children together: River Rose, born in 2014, and Remington Alexander in 2016. Kelly would gush about Brandon in interviews, calling him her 'whole world,' and saying he made her feel grounded, safe, and truly loved. She even credited him with helping her overcome insecurities and past relationship scars.
They worked together too, he became her manager, helped steer her career, and was there during some of her biggest career highs, including coaching on The Voice, winning awards, and launching her talk show.
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Trouble in paradise
But behind the scenes, things started to shift. During the pandemic lockdowns of 2020, Kelly later admitted that staying home brought underlying issues in their relationship to the surface. Quarantine has a way of doing that, you're stuck together 24/7, and there's no tour or studio time to escape into.
In June 2020, fans were shocked when Kelly filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." No one saw it coming, not even close friends.
What followed was, frankly, messy. Their divorce played out over two years and was far from amicable. There were legal battles over finances, spousal support, and their Montana ranch, yes, the one Kelly ended up living on alone for a while.
Despite all the courtroom drama and public messiness, Kelly and Brandon eventually reached a settlement in 2022. She got primary custody of the kids, and Brandon agreed to split time and receive spousal support for a few years.
Since then, they've been quietly co-parenting and trying to maintain stability for River and Remington.
Kelly bounced back with raw honesty, new music, and a fresh perspective on life. Her 2023 album Chemistry was basically an emotional deep dive into her marriage and breakup. It wasn't just breakup songs, it was heartbreak therapy set to music.
Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's love story wasn't just celebrity fluff—it was real, complicated, and full of highs and lows. It started with butterflies and ended with court dates, but in between, it brought two beautiful kids, unforgettable songs, and important lessons about love, boundaries, and personal growth.
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Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, passes away at 48: Reason behind sudden demise revealed
Trigger Warning: This article contains mention of death. Kelly Clarkson 's ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, recently passed away at the age of 48. At the time of the news, the reason behind his sudden passing was not fully shared with the public. However, in a recent report, it has been revealed that the talent manager passed away due to a form of skin cancer. His death was caused by melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer he had been battling for over three years. Blackstock, a talent manager, passed away peacefully at his home in Butte, Montana, while in hospice care and surrounded by his family. The news of his death came shortly after Kelly Clarkson had postponed her Las Vegas residency, citing that her children's father had been ill and she needed to be fully present for them. Read on to know more. The cause behind Brandon Blackstock's demise revealed Blackstock had been suffering from a form of skin cancer called melanoma, as revealed by a report from The Hollywood Reporter. The manager had been fighting the disease for a long time before he succumbed to it. It was also shared that at the time of his demise, he was in his home surrounded by his friends, family and loved ones. The star's passing was announced by his management agency in an online post. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Susan Boyle Is Now so Thin and Looks Beautiful! Undo Their official statement read, 'Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family'. They also expressed their thanks to everyone for their love, support and prayers, and also asked everyone to respect their family members as well as their privacy in such a hard time. Kelly Clarkson had also recently announced that she will be stepping back from some of her recently scheduled shows and programs, citing that Blackstock had been ill for quite some time, and that she had to shift her focus to care for her family in times of need. The 'American Idol' singer shared two children with her ex-husband, namely, daughter River and son Remy. Fans had already been concerned, as in the time leading up to the manager's demise, Clarkson had repeatedly missed filmings of her own talk show multiple times, with no reason provided at the time. The two had initially met for the first time in 2006 at the rehearsals for the Academy of Country Music Awards.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
What's next for Kelly Clarkson's talk show following ex-husband Brandon Blackstock's death
Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband Brandon Blackstock's death has reportedly left the singer exhausted and devastated. After coming out of a messy divorce battle, Kelly continued to support her ex and his family while caring for her kids, cancelling her residency, and putting her talk show on hold for a while. Now, rumours are rife that she might cancel the show altogether, but a source close to the situation has revealed what's next for The Kelly Clarkson Show and whether it will make a comeback. The Kelly Clarkson Show is set to return for season 7 this fall, an insider told TMZ, just hours after Brandon Blackstock's death on August 7. The first episode featuring the singer is set to air in September. Brandon died at 48 after privately battling melanoma for more than three years. His family said he passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, and asked for privacy. Kelly and Brandon were married for seven years before divorcing in 2022, and shared two children, River Rose, 11, and Remington, 9. Despite their messy split, Kelly adjusted her schedule so the kids could spend time with him during his illness. Also read: Brandon Blackstock cause of death revealed: Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband dies at 48, singer 'devastated' Brandon, who was once Kelly's talent manager, had been living in Montana working as a rancher, while Kelly was based in New York for her show. Over the past year, she repeatedly stepped away from work to be with her family during his treatment, which was kept private until the end. In March, she missed several episodes without explanation at the time, with guest hosts like Brooke Shields, Wanda Sykes, Simu Liu, and Josh Groban stepping in. This summer, her Las Vegas residency was hit with back-to-back disruptions before being cancelled at the last minute, leaving fans furious, first in July when she postponed opening shows after rehearsals strained her voice, then again on August 6 when she scrapped all remaining August dates. Sources told US Weekly, the past year has been 'draining' and 'emotional' for Kelly, but her priority has always been her family. Friends say the Blackstock family came together during Brandon's final months, making sure the kids were surrounded by love. 'Kelly is a workhorse. Hard work is all she knows. She hates disappointing people, truly. The thing that kept her going was knowing how many people depend on her, like her crews and employees.' Also read: Kelly Clarkson seeks divorce from husband of nearly 7 years The American Idol winner also has her new music and interview series, Songs and Stories with Kelly Clarkson, debuting August 19 on NBC. Multiple sources have confirmed, her work on The Voice isn't expected to be affected. However, behind the scenes, there's talk that Kelly might rethink her future after her current contract ends next year, as she may want a schedule that gives her more time with her family. Brandon's death was confirmed to be the result of one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer, known as black tumour. Melanoma claims an average of 8,000 lives each year in America. 'It is with great sadness that we share the news of Brandon Blackstock's passing,' his management company, Starstruck, said in a statement on August 7. 'Brandon fought cancer for over three years,' it added. 'He passed away peacefully, surrounded by family.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
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Will Brandon Blackstock's death impact The Kelly Clarkson Show season 7? Here's what we know
Kelly Clarkson's daytime talk show could push back its release date after the demise of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. As per a TV Insider report, the news of Blackstock's demise came just a day after Clarkson postponed her Las Vegas Residency shows. The Kelly Clarkson Show's season 7 was supposed to premiere in the fall, according to NBC. But the postponement of the Vegas shows and Blackstock's death may impact the filming of the talk show, the outlet said. Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock's divorce was finalized in 2022.(Invision) On August 6, Clarkson announced that she was postponing some of her Vegas shows to spend more time with her children: River, 11, and Remington, 9, as reported by People. Also read: Brandon Blackstock's net worth: How much was Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband worth? Is The Kelly Clarkson Show postponed? In an Instagram post this June, the official account of The Kelly Clarkson Show announced that the next installment would be 'coming this fall!' Notably, NBC has not put out an official release date for the series. As for her shows, Clarkson has more events scheduled in Las Vegas for November 7-8 and 14-15. Her postponed shows have been shifted to July and August 2026. The Voice Season 29: Will Kelly Clarkson return? The singer is set to return as a coach in the next edition of The Voice. The singing reality show's 29th season is currently in production. It is expected to air in the spring. Tickets for episode tapings on August 21-22 and September 5-6 are available, meaning Clarkson could continue filming the show. Earlier, a Deadline report had claimed that Clarkson would film The Voice and her talk show concurrently. Also read: Epic Games and Prime Gaming are giving away free big-name titles: See 5 PC games up for grabs Kelly Clarkson after Brandon Blackstock's death A People report claimed that the singer was 'devastated' for her kids after her ex-husband's death. Clarkson and Blackstock had tied the knot in 2013. They separated in 2020, and the divorce was finalized two years later. According to a statement by the family, Blackstone, a talent manager, had been battling cancer for three years prior to his death. FAQs What is Kelly Clarkson diagnosed with? The singer was told that she was prediabetic, as per a CNN report. Why did Kelly Clarkson leave her show? The 43-year-old had missed episodes earlier this year due to her ex-husband's battle with cancer. Did Kelly Clarkson take Ozempic for weight loss? No, the singer has clarified that she did not take Ozempic to lose weight.
