Brandon Blackstock’s Life and Career

Brandon Blackstock, a respected talent manager, passed away on August 7th at the age of 48 after a private three-year battle with cancer. Known for managing major country artists such as Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, and Kelly Clarkson, Blackstock followed in the footsteps of his father, Narvel Blackstock.

Narvel, who married country music legend Reba McEntire in 1989, managed her career for decades. Brandon was just 12 when Narvel and Reba wed. Reba considered him family and remained close to him even after her divorce from Narvel in 2015.

Brandon married Kelly Clarkson in 2013, and the couple welcomed two children: River Rose and Remington Alexander. He also had two older children, Savannah and Seth, from his first marriage. Kelly filed for divorce in 2020, with the process finalizing in 2022.

Illness and Passing

On August 6th, Kelly Clarkson postponed her Las Vegas residency dates to support her and Brandon’s children, revealing that he was ill. Just one day later, his family announced his passing.

In a statement, they shared:

“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.”

Official Cause of Death Revealed

On August 11th, the Silver Bow County Coroner, Dan Hollis, confirmed that Brandon Blackstock’s cause of death was melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer. His manner of death was listed as natural.

Melanoma often begins in areas of the skin regularly exposed to sunlight but can also occur in the eyes, and in rare cases, inside the nose or throat. According to medical experts, most melanomas are caused by ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.

Kelly Clarkson’s Heartbreak

A source close to the family told PEOPLE that Kelly was “devastated” for their children after learning of Brandon’s illness. Despite their divorce, she remained protective of him for their kids’ sake and tried to keep matters private.

The source added:

“It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She’s been devastated for the kids.”

Remembering Brandon Blackstock

Brandon’s legacy in the music industry and his role as a father will be remembered by all who knew and loved him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.