Introduction
Sad news has cast a shadow over the country music community, touching the hearts of many of the genre’s biggest names. On August 7th, Brandon Blackstock – the stepson of Reba McEntire during her 26-year marriage to Narville Blackstock – passed away after a private three-year battle with cancer. The coroner’s report confirmed the cause as natural. His passing has brought deep sorrow not only to his family but also throughout the music industry, especially as he was the father of Kelly Clarkson’s two young children – River and Remington.
Reba has not released an official statement on her own social media pages, but she left a brief and heartfelt comment beneath a tribute post shared by her son, Shelby Blackstock. Shelby had posted a series of photos in memory of his older half-brother, describing him as “an irreplaceable part of our family – funny, bright, and full of life.” Beneath this, Reba wrote: “Very well said, Shelby. Yes, we will miss him so much,” adding a few sad emojis as a quiet expression of her grief.
The family connections here are quite complex. Brandon was not Reba’s biological son, but the child of Narville and his first wife, Alisa Gilbert. However, during her marriage from 1989 to 2015, Reba has often said she loved and treated Brandon and his siblings as her own. Brandon himself was well-known in the entertainment world, having managed the career of his former wife, Kelly Clarkson, until their highly publicized divorce in 2022. Prior to Clarkson, he was married to Melissa Ashworth (1999–2012), with whom he had two children – Savannah and Seth.
Following his split from Clarkson, Brandon found love again with his life partner and business collaborator, Britney Marie Jones. Melissa Ashworth also shared a touching message on social media: “Savannah, Seth, and our grandchildren are the best parts of who Brandon and I are. Thank you for all your prayers.”
While the distance brought about by divorce may have changed certain relationships, Reba’s comment shows that the emotional bond remained intact. To her, Brandon was – and always would be – a part of the family. In this time of great loss, the entire country music community joins in offering heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.