Reba McEntire's son shares heartbreaking post in wake of half-brother Brandon Blackstock's death

Daily Mail​

09-08-2025

Reba McEntire 's son Shelby Blackstock has shared a heartbreaking post in honor of his half-brother Brandon who passed away on Thursday at the age of 48.
The former talent manager died following a three-year cancer battle with melanoma — and is the ex-husband of singer Kelly Clarkson. The pair were married from 2013 until 2022, and also welcomed two children: River, 11, and Remington, nine.
One day before his shock death was confirmed, Kelly postponed the remainder of her Las Vegas residency concerts in August and explained 'my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.'
Brandon is the son of Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter. Narvel was later married to Reba from 1989 through 2015 — and they welcomed son Shelby together.
The race car driver penned an emotional tribute to Brandon on Friday alongside an assortment of throwback photos.
'Words cannot begin to capture the tremendous loss our family has endured. Yesterday, we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son,' Shelby wrote.
'Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family — funny, bright, and full of life — and he will be deeply missed.'
Shelby then opened up the close bond he had with his late half-brother and said he had 'taught me so much, leaving behind countless cherished memories that I will hold onto forever.
'For every treasured moment we shared, there are so many more we'll never get to make together, but I know you'll still be there. Every hunt, every flight, and in the everyday moments of life, I'll feel your presence.'
He added, 'And although it may annoy you, you'll have to watch me do it all just a little better, a little smoother, and — let's be honest — looking far more handsome than you ever could in the process.
'We will always miss you, Brandon, and we will never stop loving, remembering and celebrating you,' Shelby concluded.
He included a variety of photos in the post, with some showing Shelby and Brandon posing for pictures together.
One was taken as the pair shared an embrace while others showed Brandon with his family as well as Reba.
Another image was snapped as Brandon rode a horse outside while also sipping on a can of beer.
Just five months before his death, Brandon was seen posing for a photo with his former stepmom Reba.
He could be seen joining the actress at the Houston Rodeo and sported a denim jacket as well as blue jeans and a patterned shirt.
While Reba has yet to break silence on Brandon's death, the singer had remained close to him as well as Narvel's other two children following their divorce.
'Brandon's been my son forever it seems,' she told Entertainment Tonight back in 2021. 'Although he's my stepson, I still love him like he's my total — my blood.'
And in 2010, Reba told The Boot, 'I don't consider Brandon, Chassidy and Shawna stepchildren. I claim them all.'
As a result, Brandon's ex-wife Kelly was her daughter-in-law for nearly a decade, and the two have remained good friends in spite of the pair's bitter divorce.
The couple split in 2020 and finalized the dissolution of their marriage two years later.
'I love them both, Brandon's my stepson, Kelly's my good friend, and I'm pulling for them both. I hope they're happy and healthy and pull through this... I love them both with all my heart,' the Fancy artist told Extra in October 2021.
Reba stayed true to her word. During an appearance in 2023 on Watch What Happens Live, Kelly said her relationship with the actress was still going strong.
'We text each other all the time,' the Because Of You songstress revealed. 'I think we're both women of sound mind that know that life doesn't work out sometimes.
'She would know best. Literally the same thing. So yeah, no hard feelings there. Just feelings.'
On Wednesday, Kelly took to Instagram to announce the postponement of the remainder of her Las Vegas residency concerts for August.
She wrote to her fans: '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.'
The following day on Thursday, a rep for the family said in a statement: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away.
'Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.'
The statement concluded with, 'We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.'
Brandon Blackstock is survived by his and Kelly's children, River Rose, 11, Remington, nine, along with the children from his first marriage, Seth, age unknown, along with Savannah, 23, her husband Quetin Lee, and their son, Lake, three.