Brandon Blackstock, the former husband of singer Kelly Clarkson and stepson of country music legend Reba McEntire, has died at the age of 48. His family confirmed the heartbreaking news in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the family’s representative shared. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

While Blackstock kept a relatively low public profile, his name was often in the headlines due to his high-profile marriage—and eventual divorce—from pop superstar and talk show host Kelly Clarkson.

Just days before his passing was announced, Clarkson took to Instagram to share that she would be postponing the remaining dates of her Las Vegas residency due to a family emergency.

“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” she wrote on Wednesday. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father [ex-husband Brandon Blackstock] has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”

She added, “I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”

Clarkson and Blackstock were married in 2013 and share two children together—daughter River and son Remington. The couple’s relationship began years earlier, as Blackstock’s father, Narvel Blackstock, owned the music management company that had represented Clarkson since 2007. Brandon eventually became her manager in 2017 and remained in that role until their separation in 2020.

Their divorce was finalized in 2022, with Clarkson receiving primary physical custody of their children. While their separation was publicly rocky, it was clear that the singer remained focused on co-parenting and protecting their kids during Blackstock’s illness.

Earlier this year, Clarkson marked a major milestone with her 1,000th episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. However, fans noticed her absence for nearly two weeks in March, during which celebrity guest hosts filled in. She returned briefly on March 18, only to step back again the following day, returning fully by March 20.

In July, just hours before the kickoff of her Las Vegas residency, Clarkson postponed the opening of “Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency,” which was originally scheduled to begin July 4 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The 18-show run was meant to continue through November 15.

Brandon Blackstock leaves behind not only his two children with Clarkson, but also two older children from a previous relationship. He will be remembered by many for his long career in music management, his connection to some of country and pop music’s biggest names, and his role as a father.

As the Clarkson and Blackstock families mourn his passing, they are asking for privacy, prayer, and grace during this deeply painful time.