Kelly Clarkson shared a deeply personal love story with her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock — a romance that ultimately ended in heartbreak with his untimely death at 48.
On Thursday, a family representative confirmed that Blackstock — Clarkson’s ex-husband of seven years and father of her two children — had died after a three-year battle with cancer.
News of his death came just hours after Clarkson, 43, announced she was postponing the remaining dates of her Las Vegas residency in August, citing the severity of her ex-husband's condition.
'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,' wrote the Grammy winner, who shares daughter River Rose, 10, and son Remington, 8, with Blackstock.
Fans were deeply moved — though not surprised — by Clarkson's gesture, knowing the bond the former couple once shared.
From a professional connection that evolved into a whirlwind romance, to building a family together before their eventual divorce, here's a look back at Kelly and Brandon's love story — one that ended in unimaginable tragedy.
It all started long before they ever became a couple.
Clarkson and Blackstock first met in May 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards — and for Clarkson, it was unforgettable.
'I've only had three other boyfriends that I dated, and not really seriously,' she told People in 2013. 'This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, "I'm gonna end up with him. I know it."'
Years later, in 2017, Clarkson revealed even more about that fateful night.
'My guitar player's wife Ashley was my date for that night and we had just both been in crap relationships,' she shared.
'Sometimes it sucks dating because it's so many wrong ones until you get the right one. And we were like, 'OK, what we've been doing wrong here' — because it was a country music event and we're both southern girls — we were like, 'We've been dating skinny jeans and we need Wranglers.'"
Then came the moment that sealed it for her: 'Literally, I'm not joking, he walked past us at that time. And he walked by, I was ready to take it all off. I just felt something.'
At the time, Blackstock was still married to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth.
It wasn't until 2012 — after Blackstock’s divorce — that he and Clarkson officially started dating.
Interestingly, they already shared a professional link, as Blackstock's father Narvel was Clarkson's longtime manager.
The two crossed paths again at the Super Bowl in 2012.
Clarkson was performing the national anthem, while Blackstock's client, Blake Shelton, was singing America the Beautiful with Miranda Lambert.
Clarkson later admitted to SiriusXM that her nerves had little to do with the massive audience.
'I was so nervous because it wasn't that I didn't want to suck for the millions of people watching, I didn't want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy,' she said. 'I wanted him to be like, 'Damn.' It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!"'
The American Idol alum added: 'We didn't even know each other, but he had walked past me once and there was a moment in my crazy head. He thought I hated him, too. When I finally confessed that, 'I really dig you,' he was so shocked because he thought I hated him. I hadn't let on that I liked him. Inside I was like, 'Ask me out!' but outside I was like, 'I love being single and coming home every night alone. It's awesome.'"
Their first official date was on February 11, 2012, and by December of that year, Blackstock had proposed — leaving Clarkson overjoyed.
'I'M ENGAGED!!!!!' she tweeted at the time. 'I wanted y'all to know!! Happiest night of my life last night! I am so lucky and am with the greatest man ever.'
She later opened up to People about the low-key moment.
While relaxing at home in Nashville, Clarkson thanked Blackstock for simply being good to her.
'Out of nowhere I just said, 'Thanks for being an awesome guy.' I've never been loved properly by a man, and I was just like, 'I thank you so much for that.'"
Then came the big question. 'Not a damn clue!" she said of whether she saw it coming. 'If I did, I would have worn something besides Uggs and a sweatshirt with no bra.'
They tied the knot on October 20, 2013.
'I'm officially Mrs. Blackstock :)' Clarkson tweeted. 'We got married yesterday at Blackberry Farms in TN, the most beautiful place ever!'
Clarkson and Blackstock then welcomed River Rose on June 12, 2014.
'Our baby girl River Rose Blackstock arrived on June 12th!' Clarkson announced. 'Thank you everyone for all of your well wishes! Brandon and I are on cloud 9!!'
During a 2015 concert, Clarkson surprised fans with an emotional onstage announcement: she was pregnant again.
After finishing the song, she added, 'I'd like to apologize to my husband. That was not planned. I just didn't want you to think I was crazy or something. Honestly, I'm just so hormonal today. … I haven't vomited yet. That is a freakin' win, y'all.'
On April 12, 2016, the couple welcomed their son, Remington Alexander.
'Meet Remy, our newest [addition] to the family!' Clarkson tweeted at the time.
By 2019, the couple had grown their bond both personally and professionally — with Clarkson crediting Blackstock for encouraging her to launch her talk show.
But behind the scenes, cracks had begun to form.
In June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
In November, Clarkson was granted primary physical custody of River and Remington.
Court documents cited increased conflict and issues of trust between the two, complicating their ability to co-parent.
The divorce proceedings also became contentious over money.
Blackstock initially sought $301,000 a month in spousal support and $135,000 in child support. A judge eventually ordered Clarkson to pay a combined $200,000 monthly.
By August 2021, a judge signed off on the dissolution of their marriage, and Clarkson was declared legally single.
One major sticking point had been their Montana ranch.
Though an L.A. judge ruled in Clarkson’s favor based on their prenup, Blackstock claimed the property was 'marital.'
Clarkson later agreed to give him 5.12% of the ranch’s value — or $908,800 of its total $17.75 million worth.
Their divorce was finalized in March 2022 and Clarkson was ordered to make a one-time payment of just over $1.3 million, along with ongoing support payments.
In a March 2023 episode of Angie Martinez's IRL podcast, Clarkson reflected on the painful decision to walk away from the marriage.
'I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn't an overnight decision,' she said.
'I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn't happen.'
Blackstock is also survived by children Savannah Blackstock and Seth Blackstock, from his previous marriage to Ashworth.
