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The original American Idol champion, Kelly Clarkson, endured years of emotional and legal hardship with her former spouse in the period leading up to his death, as court records and various interviews reveal the immense strain their relationship placed on their family life.

Brandon Blackstock—Kelly Clarkson’s former husband and a well-known talent manager—has passed away at the age of 48 after a prolonged fight with cancer. He was also the stepson of legendary country singer Reba McEntire.

Brandon and Kelly were photographed attending the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on January 12, 2020.

His family publicly announced his passing in a statement given to USA Today on Thursday, August 7, 2025. “With heavy hearts, we confirm the passing of Brandon Blackstock,” the family wrote in their official release.

Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot in October 2013 after getting engaged in December 2012. They share two children together: a daughter, River Rose, and a son, Remington Alexander. During their divorce proceedings, it became clear that co-parenting presented serious difficulties.

A family photo taken on April 27, 2019, shows River Rose, Kelly Clarkson, Remington Alexander, and Brandon Blackstock together at Regal Cinema in Los Angeles.

In November 2020, People magazine reported that a judge from Los Angeles County had awarded Clarkson primary physical custody of the children. The court filings noted, “Given the circumstances of this case, the court finds it is in the best interest of the minor children to remain primarily with the Petitioner for the sake of stability and continuity.”

The documentation also highlighted that the “level of conflict between the parents had intensified. The parties struggle with co-parenting due to ongoing trust issues.”

Under the custody arrangement, Clarkson was to maintain primary custody at her Woodvale residence in Los Angeles, while Blackstock—who planned to remain in Montana and continue working as a music manager—would have visitation rights in Los Angeles.

Although they agreed to joint legal and physical custody, Clarkson’s home would serve as the children’s primary residence. Part of the agreement included daily FaceTime calls between Blackstock and the children, at mutually agreed times.

Additionally, both parties were required to “refrain from making derogatory remarks about the other parent in front of the children, or allowing anyone else to do so in their presence.”

During a February 2021 episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show, Clarkson spoke openly about the challenges of navigating co-parenting. “It’s hard,” she admitted. “Brandon and I are just in very different places right now. We agree on the big stuff, but it’s tough when you’re not raising your kids under the same roof. It’s personally hard for me.”

An earlier image shows Brandon and Kelly attending Billboard’s Women in Music event, hosted with FIJI Water, on November 30, 2017, in Hollywood, California.

While the custody terms addressed their parenting responsibilities, financial disputes continued to unfold long after the marriage had ended. In May 2024, however, that chapter reached its quiet conclusion.

Court records revealed that Clarkson initiated the closure by filing to dismiss her legal case against Blackstock on May 21, 2024. The following day, his company, Starstruck Management Group, submitted its own dismissal. “Everything has been resolved,” a source close to the matter told Rolling Stone at the time.

The agreement enabled the former couple to bypass a public court trial, which had been set for late August 2024. That trial would have examined whether Blackstock had acted illegally by brokering specific deals for Clarkson—such as her stint on The Voice—and collecting commissions for them.

By the time Clarkson had filed to end the lawsuit, Blackstock was already battling serious health complications. The family confirmed he had been fighting cancer for over three years, meaning his illness was present throughout the final legal stages.

A photo from March 28, 2015, captured TV producer Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and Brandon Blackstock attending Muhammad Ali’s Celebrity Fight Night XXI at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.

The emotional impact of the separation was deeply felt within their home. In June 2023, Clarkson appeared on the podcast We Can Do Hard Things, where she reflected on how the divorce had affected their children.

“I’m still having conversations about it, even three years later,” she shared. “The kids had just come back from spending time with their dad. Anytime the idea comes up that he might be with someone new, they get very protective of the hope that maybe we’ll end up back together someday.”

An earlier picture from April 27, 2019, shows River Rose, Kelly Clarkson, Remington Alexander, and Brandon Blackstock at a family event at Regal Cinema in Los Angeles.

That emotional longing from the children never completely disappeared. Over a year later, in November 2024, Clarkson told KOST 103.5 about how her kids reacted to the idea of her moving on romantically. “They bring it up all the time. ‘Please don’t be with anyone else,’ they say. They’re still young, and it’s hard for them to imagine me with someone who isn’t their dad.”

Kelly and Brandon were also seen attending the CMT Music Awards at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 6, 2018.

The couple’s relationship was marked by a series of legal fights, parenting complications, and personal trials—all unfolding during the years that Brandon was quietly fighting for his life.

His passing marked the end of a chapter defined by both legal conflict and private emotional battles. It also left behind two children who, despite everything, never gave up hope that their parents might find their way back to each other.