Reba McEntire’s Stepson, Brandon Blackstock, Passes Away After Three-Year Cancer Battle
On Thursday, August 7, Brandon Blackstock died at the age of 48 following a private three-year battle with cancer. His family confirmed the news in a public statement.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the statement read. “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.”
Brandon built a career in the music industry as a talent manager, representing big names such as Rascal Flatts and Blake Shelton. He also managed his ex-wife, Kelly Clarkson, for a time before their split.
His connection to the business ran deep — his father, Narvel Blackstock, was also an artist manager and was married to country legend Reba McEntire. The two wed in 1989, when Brandon was 12 years old, and remained together for nearly 26 years before divorcing in 2015.
Reba’s Relationship with Brandon
When Reba married Narvel, she embraced his three children — Brandon, Chassidy, and Shawna — as her own, in addition to raising their son, Shelby.
“I don’t consider Brandon, Chassidy, and Shawna stepchildren. I claim them all,” Reba said in a 2010 interview with The Boot. Even after her divorce from Narvel, she maintained close ties with her stepchildren.
Her bond with Brandon became part of a unique family dynamic when he married Kelly Clarkson in 2013. Reba had already been friends with Clarkson before the marriage, which she said helped strengthen the family connection.
“She’s married to my oldest son, Brandon, but we’re also good friends,” McEntire told Us Weekly in 2019. “So that goes a long way… when you can have a good friend as a part of your family.”
When Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, Reba remained publicly supportive of both her stepson and her friend. In a 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she shared:
“Brandon’s been my son forever, it seems. Although he’s my stepson, I still love him like he’s my blood, so I’m praying for them both because I love them both.”
Final Months Surrounded by Family
In his last months, Brandon continued to spend time with his loved ones, including Reba. In March, his half-brother posted photos from RodeoHouston showing Brandon enjoying the event with family, where Reba also performed.
The images now serve as some of the most recent public moments between Reba and her stepson — a reminder of their enduring family bond.