Reba McEntire showed her heart on full display during a recent episode of “The Voice,” when an emotional performance hit a little too close to home.
During a recent episode of the popular NBC singing competition, the 70-year-old country legend teared up after contestant Aubrey Nicole sang “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” by Martina McBride — a song about love, loss, and standing by someone fighting cancer.
After the moving performance, fellow coach Snoop Dogg — who admitted he didn’t know the song — was visibly touched by Nicole’s heartfelt delivery. Noticing McEntire’s reaction, he kindly handed her a tissue. “I do know this song. Martina’s — I’ll need it, thank you, Snoop,” McEntire said through tears.
Then she explained why the moment struck such a deep chord. “Martina’s a good friend of mine. I lost my oldest son because he did not win with cancer,” she shared. “That was a real reminder that life goes on, and we sing songs about it so we can remember the ones around us that we love so much, that we lean on at times like this. You did a great job.”
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a young mother facing a cancer diagnosis, with the powerful line, “Cancer don’t discriminate or care if you’re just 38 / With three kids who need you in their lives.” According to NBC, Aubrey Nicole dedicated her performance to her father, who battled cancer and is now in remission.
For McEntire, the moment brought back painful memories. Her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, died in August after a private battle with melanoma, a form of skin cancer. McEntire, who was married to Brandon’s father and former manager, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015, called him her “oldest son.”
Following his passing, she posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram alongside several photos. “Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God’s presence,” she wrote. “There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again.”
Though McEntire and Narvel divorced nearly a decade ago, she has always viewed his children as her own. “I absolutely loved that child,” she told People in October. “He came into my life, I guess he was four years old. Then when Narvel and I got married, he was 13, 14. Along with his mom and dad, I helped raise him, along with [stepkids] Shawna and Chassidy. They were my kids.”
She described Brandon as “so funny” and full of life. “He loved to scare people,” she added with a smile. “His mischievousness and his love of life will be missed, and we’ll never forget him.”
Brandon was married to singer Kelly Clarkson for seven years, from 2013 to 2020, and they shared two children, River and Remington.
Through tears, Reba McEntire reminded fans that even in grief, music has a way of healing. “We sing songs about it so we can remember the ones around us that we love so much,” she said — a simple but powerful truth for anyone who has ever loved and lost.