Brandon Blackstock’s Family Journey: A Photo Showcase

Brandon Blackstock gained fame in 2012 when he began dating Kelly Clarkson — though the talent manager was already familiar with the spotlight.

The Texas native was born in 1976 to Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter. After Narvel’s separation from Ritter in 1988, Reba McEntire became Brandon’s stepmother. The country star was married to Narvel from 1989 until 2015.

Prior to marrying Clarkson in 2013 in Tennessee, Brandon was wed to Melissa Ashworth until 2012. The former couple had two children: their daughter Savannah, born in 2002, and their son Seth, born in 2006.

Brandon first met Clarkson while still married to Ashworth. He later reconnected with her and became engaged in 2012. The host of The Kelly Clarkson Show welcomed daughter River and son Remington before filing for divorce in June 2020, which was finalized two years later. In 2025, it was reported that Brandon passed away at the age of 48 after a private battle with cancer.

Continue scrolling to explore a detailed overview of Brandon’s family, including his four children and his former stepmother.