Brandon Blackstock, a talent manager known for his connections to Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire, passed away at 48 after a three-year battle with cancer, surrounded by family, as confirmed by a family representative. Clarkson, his ex-wife, postponed her Las Vegas residency to focus on their children, River, 11, and Remington, 9, citing his illness.

Blackstock, who also had two children, Savannah and Seth, from a prior marriage and became a grandfather in 2022, first met Clarkson in 2006, reconnecting years later at the Super Bowl, leading to their 2013 marriage. He managed Clarkson and Blake Shelton, earning praise for his talent, but the couple divorced in 2022 after a 2020 filing.

Blackstock is survived by his children, grandson, father Narvel, and siblings Shelby, Shawna, and Chassidy.