Brandon Blackstock‘s relationship with his former stepmother, Reba McEntire, remained strong through their respective divorces.
Following her 1989 marriage to the talent manager’s father, Narvel Blackstock, the country superstar became close to Brandon.
Brandon’s been my son forever it seems,” McEntire told Entertainment Tonight in October 2021. “Although he’s my stepson, I still love him like he’s my total — my blood.”
McEntire even gave Brandon her seal of approval ahead of his marriage to Kelly Clarkson in 2013. “She’s married [to] my oldest son, Brandon, but we’re also good friends,” the Reba alum told Us Weekly in March 2019 about her close bond with Clarkson. “So that goes a long way — when you can have a good friend as a part of your family.”
McEntire and Narvel announced in August 2015 that they had decided to end their marriage after 26 years together. “Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” the Big Machine Label Group said in a statement at the time. “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”
Clarkson, meanwhile, filed for divorce in June 2020, citing “irreconcilable differences” between her and Brandon. Through the pair’s heated divorce and legal battle, McEntire publicly shared her support for both her stepson and his estranged wife.
In August 2025, Brandon died at age 48 following a private battle with cancer.
“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. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about Brandon and McEntire’s bond over the years:
Birthday Baby
Brandon was born as the middle child of three in Texas to Narvel and Elisa Ritter in 1976. His parents split in 1988 and Narvel married McEntire one year later.
Family First
“I don’t consider Brandon, Chassidy and Shawna [Blackstock] stepchildren,” McEntire told The Boot about her blended family, which also includes Shelby Blackstock, who she shares with Narvel. “I claim them all.”
Proud Papa
Brandon was married to Melissa Ashworth from 2001 to 2012. The couple welcomed two children together, Savannah and Seth, in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Blackstock was still married when he met Clarkson and they tied the knot in 2013 after his divorce from Ashworth was finalized.
Happy Wife, Happy Life
For McEntire, who has known Clarkson since her American Idol days, Brandon’s wedding to the singer was an extra special occasion. “I love her to pieces,” the “Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” singer said during a 2019 appearance on The Talk. “She’s been one of my best friends since I met her in 2002, now she’s my daughter-in-law. She’s a wonderful person, big-hearted, always full of joy and laughter.”
Double Date
The Blackstock men enjoyed a double date with their respective wives in 2015 at Muhammad Ali’s annual Celebrity Fight Night in Phoenix, Arizona.
End of An Era
Despite filing for divorce from Brandon’s father, McEntire remained close to her stepson and his children. “Sometimes when we meet our heroes, it doesn’t always pan out how you hope. But meeting Reba, being friends with her and eventually becoming family has been one of the highlights of my life, truly,” Clarkson said in a tribute to her former mother-in-law during the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018. “Thank you for being a really rad grandma for my kids.”
“Thank Goodness!”
Though the Christmas in Tune star admitted to Us in March 2019 that she doesn’t “get to spend as much time nowadays as we used to” with Brandon and his family, they all maintained a strong bond. Later that year, she and Clarkson touched on their close bond on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “I ended up marrying her oldest son and you got stuck with me more,” Clarkson said at the time, to which McEntire responded, “Thank goodness!”
Sending Love
“You know, I love them both. Brandon’s my stepson, Kelly’s my good friend,” McEntire told Extra in October 2021 when asked about Brandon and Clarkson’s split. “I am pulling for both of them. I hope they’re happy and healthy and pull through this. … I pray everyone gives them the encouragement that they can because they need it right now, both of them do. I love them with my whole heart.”
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