Brandon Blackstock, Music Manager & Kelly Clarkson’s Ex-Husband, Dead at 48

Brandon Blackstock, the Nashville music manager who was married to Kelly Clarkson for seven years, has died after a battle with cancer. He was 48.

Starstruck Entertainment, the company for which Blackstock worked for many years, shared the news via an Instagram statement on Thursday (Aug. 7). “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” it read.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” the message continued. “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.”

The news comes just one day after the The Voice coach announced that she would be postponing her August residency shows in Las Vegas so that she could be with her kids during a tough period for the family. “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,” she wrote on Instagram at the time.

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

The son of Starstruck co-founder Narvel Blackstock, Brandon was formerly the stepson of Reba McEntire, who was married to his father for 26 years. Working alongside his dad, Brandon was involved in managing the careers of clients such as Blake Shelton and Carly Pearce.

Years after meeting each other while Narvel was Clarkson’s manager, the singer and Brandon tied the knot in 2013, after which Brandon would become his then-wife’s manager. They share two children together, welcoming 11-year-old River in 2014 and 9-year-old Remington in 2016.

In 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce, setting off a lengthy legal battle between herself and her ex-husband. Though they’d eventually settle their split in 2022 — with Clarkson agreeing to give Brandon $45,601 in monthly child support as well as a one-time payment of $1.3 million — Starstruck would later sue the American Idol alum for alleged unpaid fees. Clarkson responded by alleging that the Blackstocks actually owed her money, filing a complaint with California’s Labor Commissioner that claimed they’d violated the state’s Talent Agencies Act by serving as her managers as well as unlicensed talent agents who booked her business deals.

The ruling went in Clarkson’s favor, with Brandon ordered to repay her more than $2.6 million in commissions. Shortly afterward, Blackstock and Starstruck challenged the ruling in court, but the case was ultimately dismissed in May 2024.

In addition to the children he shared with Clarkson, Brandon is also survived by his kids with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth — Savannah and Seth — as well as a young grandson named Lake.