Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband Brandon Blackstock dead at 48

Perth Now

4 days ago

Kelly Clarkson's former husband and the father of her two children, Brandon Blackstock, died following a three-year battle with cancer, his representative said on Thursday.
He was 48.
'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,' a spokesperson for Blackstock said in a statement.
'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 announced on Wednesday that she was postponing the rest of her Studio Session concerts in Las Vegas this month to support her family.
The American Idol star told fans on Instagram that she was prioritising the needs of her loved ones.
'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,' wrote the three-time Grammy winner.
Clarkson and Blackstock, who divorced in March 2022, have two children together, daughter River Rose, who was born in 2014, and son Remington Alexander, born in 2016.
Clarkson and the children reside in New York City, where she also hosts a daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Blackstock is also survived by children Savannah Blackstock and Seth Blackstock, who he had with another, ex-wife Melissa Ashworth.
Blackstock's father, Narvel Blackstock, was once married to Reba McEntire, thus making the country music legend his one-time stepmother.
Clarkson and Blackstock separated in 2020 after seven years of marriage and were embroiled in legal battles as they tried to resolve their complicated business entanglements.
Shortly after Clarkson filed for divorce, Starstruck Entertainment, the management company run by Narvel, sued her for millions in allegedly unpaid fees.
Starstruck claimed it had 'invested a great deal of time, money, energy and dedication' into Clarkson's career and had 'developed Clarkson into a mega superstar'.
Clarkson responded by filing a complaint with California's Labour Commissioner, arguing that Starstruck had violated California's Talent Agencies Act by serving not only as her personal manager but also as unlicensed talent agents who booked business deals.
In November 2023, Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower ruled that Blackstock had procured a number of deals for Clarkson — including her role as a judge on the American version of The Voice — that should have been handled by her talent agents at Creative Artists Agency.
That decision meant Blackstock had to repay his ex-wife $US2.6 million, or about $A3.96 million.
After their divorce, Clarkson agreed to pay her ex-husband monthly child support of almost $A70,000 for their two children, son Remington, 7, and daughter River, 9, plus a one-off payment of $A1.98 million.
In March 2024, Clarkson filed another lawsuit against Blackstock, this time claiming Starstruck had violated state labour laws by acting as unlicensed talent agents.
Blackstock's lawyer Bryan Freedman denounced Clarkson's new lawsuit in a statement to Rolling Stone, saying it was 'morally, ethically and legally wrong to attempt to get monies back from your ex-husband who not only helped her as her manager but who used those earnings on their children and Kelly and Brandon's lifestyle during the marriage'.
By May 2024, Clarkson and Blackstock's legal issues were settled when they both withdrew their cases.