(NEXSTAR) — Brandon Blackstock, the talent manager ex-husband of Kelly Clarkson, has died, according to multiple reports. He was 48.
Singer-songwriter Clarkson revealed Wednesday that Blackstock was ill as she postponed the remainder of her Las Vegas residency, Nexstar’s NewsNation reported.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” Clarkson shared on her social media accounts. “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.”
Early Thursday afternoon, PEOPLE reported that Blackstock had died, citing a statement from his representative that he had “bravely battled cancer for more than three years.”
FILE – In this Jan. 28, 2018 file photo shows Kelly Clarkson and her husband Brandon Blackstock at the 60th annual Grammy Awards in New York. Clarkson has filed for divorce from her husband of nearly seven years. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)
“He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” the statement continued. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
TMZ also confirmed Blackstock’s death, saying he passed away Thursday morning. No additional details were immediately available, like Blackstock’s cause of death or what cancer he had been diagnosed with.
The outlet reported that Clarkson’s absences from her daylight TV show, “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” were connected to Blackstock’s illness. A source told Nexstar’s NewsNation in April that he had been sick and that Clarkson took their children to see him.
Blackstock, whose father was married to Reba McEntire for more than 25 years, shares two children with Clarkson. He has two children from a previous marriage and became a grandfather three years ago, according to PEOPLE.
Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013 and divorced in 2020. Blackstock’s father, Narvel, had been Clarkson’s manager, PEOPLE reports. Clarkson and the younger Blackstock met in 2006 when the latter was still married to his ex-wife, Melissa Ashworth.
Clarkson and Blackstock had a contentious divorce, facing disputes over their property and spousal support, as well as custody of their children. As Entertainment Weekly reports, Clarkson was granted primary custody of their children.
