Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, died on Thursday, August 7. He was 48.

 

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away.

 

Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years.

 

He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” a rep for the family said in a statement to Us Weekly.

 

“We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

 

One day earlier, while explaining her decision to halt her Las Vegas residency, Clarkson revealed that Blackstock was suffering from an illness, though she did not specify the exact condition at the time.

 

“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” she said in a statement shared via Instagram on Wednesday, August 6.

 

“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.

 

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

 

Prior to his relationship with Clarkson, Blackstock was married to Melissa Ashworth from 2001 to 2012.

 

The pair welcomed daughter Savannah in June 2002 and son Seth in November 2006.

 

(Blackstock later became a grandfather in January 2022 when Savannah gave birth to her first baby, son Lake, with Quentin Lee.

 

She announced in July 2025 that she is pregnant with the couple’s second baby.)

 

Taylor Hill/Getty Images

 

Clarkson and Brandon — whose father was her former manager Narvel Blackstock — began dating in February 2012 and tied the knot one year later in October 2013.

 

The pair welcomed daughter River in June 2014 and son Remington in April 2016.

 

During their marriage, Brandon served as Clarkson’s manager.

 

In June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce from Brandon after nearly seven years of marriage.

 

The exes finalized the proceedings in March 2022, and Clarkson was granted primary custody of their two children.

 

(The twosome had a messy battle in court over property and finances.)

 

Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson. Mike Coppola/FilmMagic

 

In January 2024, Clarkson reflected on her divorce from Brandon, revealing that their marriage was not her idea.

 

“I never wanted to get married the first time,” she told People.

 

“[Brandon] had children, a religious background, and it was important, I think, for him. But I’ve never been that person.”

 

Clarkson explained that her hesitancy stemmed from what she’d seen her loved ones deal with, adding, “Because I’ve been through a couple divorces in my family, I just don’t like to put any weight on it.”

 

In March, Clarkson shared a rare glimpse into her coparenting dynamic with Brandon during an appearance on Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast.

 

While discussing kids’ double standards for their mothers and fathers, she sarcastically confessed, “There’s a lot that I keep in … because coparenting is fun.”

 

Blackstock is survived by River and Remington and his two older children, Savannah and Seth.