Kelly Clarkson had a tense relationship with her estranged ex after a horrible split. He passed away last summer, leaving their kids devastated. The American Idol alum reportedly stepped up when he was on his deathbed. Keep for latest details on the heartbreaking loss.

How Kelly Clarkson Stepped Up For Estranged Ex On Deathbed

Kelly Clarkson made headlines for the wrong reasons a few years ago. Her marriage to producer Brandon Blackstock, who also served as her manager, came to a sudden end. The former couple married in 2013. They split in 2020 after seven years of marriage. They spent several years battling it out in court over custody of their two kids and the ownership of a ranch in Montana, among other issues.
Kelly Clarkson/Credit: YouTube
Brandon Blackstock, the stepson of Reba McEntire, sued his ex-wife for unpaid commissions. Kelly Clarkson countersued. The lawsuits were eventually settled, but it didn’t look good in the press. After the divorce, the singer moved to New York City with her kids for a fresh start. Her daytime talk show made the move to a new studio in NYC. The Kelly Clarkson Show will reportedly end after its current season.

Kelly Clarkson unexpectedly postponed her Las Vegas residency in early August 2025. News broke the next day that Brandon Blackstock had died after a private cancer battle. The American Idol alum took a step back from her professional commitments to help her kids deal with the massive loss.
Kelly Clarkson-YouTube
In a rare glimpse at her personal life, Kelly Clarkson revealed on the talk show recently that she lets her kids sleep with her. “I have allowed my kids to sleep with me quite a bit. It’s my two dogs, my two kids and me,” she said while doing a Q&A with fans.

Despite their tense divorce, Kelly Clarkson was reportedly at her ex-husband’s side when he was on his deathbed, a source spilled to Star magazine. “Kelly was extremely compassionate towards Brandon when he was sick. She put all the bad blood to one side and went out of her way to make his last days as comfortable and non-confrontational as possible,” the insider said.

Keeps His Memory Alive For Their Kids

The source also revealed that Kelly Clarkson never badmouths her ex in front of their kids, River Rose, 11, and Remy, 9. “Kelly goes above and beyond to say good things about Brandon, especially when it comes to the kids,” the source said.

The insider added, “For all his faults, he was an extremely loving, protective dad. She and the kids remember the special moments they shared, look at photos and watch home videos to try to honor him however they can.”

Even though they divorced, Kelly Clarkson loved Brandon Blackstock for a long time. His death likely affects her, as well as their two kids.