Country music star Luke Bryan paid an emotional tribute to Brandon Blackstock on Thursday, August 7, dedicating his heartfelt performance of “Drink a Beer” to the late music producer, who passed away after a courageous three-year battle with cancer.

Luke Bryan just dedicated tonight’s Drink a Beer performance to Brandon Blackstock https://t.co/pmKZLbx69G pic.twitter.com/s8xgkXrYqm

— Matthew Foldi (@MatthewFoldi) August 8, 2025

“Have a sip of your beer for Brandon Blackstock today,” Bryan told the crowd before singing. “We love you, man,” he added.

Who Was Brandon Blackstock?
Brandon Blackstock was a well-known figure in the country music industry, recognized for his marriage to pop and country superstar Kelly Clarkson in 2013. Together, they welcomed two children: River Rose (born 2014) and Remington Alexander (born 2016).

Brandon was also the former stepson of Reba McEntire, who remained close to him and his siblings even after her 2015 divorce from Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock.

His Career in Country Music
As a music manager at Starstruck Entertainment, the company founded by his father, Brandon worked with major artists like Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts. From 2017 to 2020, he also managed Kelly Clarkson, helping secure her role on The Voice and launching her daytime talk show.