On Monday, Ms. Reba McEntire, aged 70, issued her first public statement regarding the death of her former stepson, Mr. Brandon Blackstock. The country music artist posted her remarks in the comments section of an Instagram tribute authored by her son, Mr. Shelby Blackstock, stating:
“Very well said, Shelby. Yes, we will miss him so much,”
accompanied by multiple heart and broken-heart emojis.
Ms. McEntire was married to Mr. Narvel Blackstock, father of both Brandon and Shelby, from 1989 until their divorce in 2015. The statement follows disclosures in Mr. Blackstock’s obituary indicating that, at the time of his passing, he was in a romantic relationship with an individual identified as the personal assistant to Ms. Kelly Clarkson.
Mr. Brandon Blackstock, aged 48, died on 7 August 2025 from melanoma cancer. He was married to Ms. Clarkson for nearly seven years prior to their divorce in 2020 and shared two minor children with her. The day prior to public confirmation of his death, Ms. Clarkson, aged 43, postponed her Las Vegas residency, citing his illness.
Mr. Shelby Blackstock, aged 35, published a tribute on social media the day after his brother’s passing, writing:
“Words cannot begin to capture the tremendous loss our family has endured. Yesterday, we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son. Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family—funny, bright, and full of life—and he will be deeply missed.”
Mr. Shelby Blackstock further stated that his elder brother had imparted valuable life lessons which he “will hold onto forever” along with “countless cherished memories,” concluding:
“We will always miss you, Brandon, and we will never stop loving, remembering, and celebrating you.”
Ms. McEntire has previously spoken warmly of her relationship with Mr. Blackstock. In a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she stated:
“Brandon’s been my son forever, it seems. Although he’s my stepson, I still love him like he’s my total—my blood.”
Approximately five months prior to his passing, Mr. Brandon Blackstock and members of his family attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo to support Ms. Reba McEntire, who was among the event’s three headlining performers. According to statements provided to Us Weekly by an unidentified source, Ms. McEntire “flew out the entire family” for the concert, converting the occasion into a family vacation during which “they all spent a lot of time together.” The same source indicated that Ms. McEntire had “spent more time with the Blackstock crew in the past year than in years prior.”
Photographic evidence shared by Ms. McEntire’s son, Mr. Shelby Blackstock, depicted the singer posing with her partner, Mr. Rex Linn, alongside Mr. Blackstock and his eldest daughter, Ms. Savannah Blackstock. Also in attendance were Mr. Blackstock’s sisters, Ms. Chassidy Blackstock and Ms. Shawna Blackstock, as well as Mr. Shelby Blackstock and his spouse, Ms. Marissa Blackstock.
The source further stated that Mr. Narvel Blackstock, his spouse Ms. Laura Blackstock, and Mr. Linn “are at a place where they can be together and talk,” describing this as “a big step” given the family’s previously “contentious” history. The source emphazised that “Reba has a heart of gold, and she was there for Brandon and his kids. They are family at the end of the day.”
Mr. Brandon Blackstock was married to Ms. Kelly Clarkson from 2013 until 2022. The marriage produced two minor children: daughter River Rose, aged 11, and son Remy, aged nine. From his prior marriage to Ms. Melissa Ashforth, Mr. Blackstock was the father of two adult children: Ms. Savannah Blackstock, aged 23, and Mr. Seth Blackstock, aged 18.
Mr. Blackstock became a grandfather in January 2022 when Ms. Savannah Blackstock and her husband, Mr. Quentin Lee, welcomed their first child, a son named Lake Lee. In July 2025, approximately one month before Mr. Blackstock’s death, Ms. Savannah Blackstock publicly announced that she and Mr. Lee were expecting their second child, a daughter.#newsafro_
