Brandon Blackstock, music manager and former husband of pop star Kelly Clarkson, has died at the age of 48 following a years-long battle with cancer. His family confirmed the news in a statement Thursday, describing his passing as peaceful and surrounded by loved ones.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the Blackstock family said. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.” The statement added that no further details about his illness would be shared and requested privacy during what they described as an “extremely difficult time.”

The news of Blackstock’s death comes just one day after Clarkson announced a postponement of several dates from her Las Vegas residency, citing the need to be fully present for her children as their father’s health declined. In a rare personal post shared on Instagram, Clarkson wrote, “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.”

Blackstock and Clarkson began dating in 2012 and married the following year. The couple had two children together: daughter River Rose, born in 2014, and son Remington Alexander, born in 2016. Blackstock was also the father of two older children, Savannah and Seth, from a previous marriage. In 2022, he became a grandfather when Savannah welcomed her first child, a son named Lake.

A figure known within the music industry, Blackstock worked as a talent manager with Starstruck Management Group, a company founded by his father, Narvel Blackstock. Over the years, he managed several high-profile clients, including country star Blake Shelton. After marrying Clarkson, he took over as her manager, a professional relationship that would later become a point of legal contention during their divorce proceedings.

Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage. The split was followed by a prolonged legal dispute that included custody arrangements, property battles, and disagreements over commissions and financial entitlements from their professional work together. The divorce was finalized in 2022.

Their relationship, both the highs and eventual heartbreak, played a visible role in Clarkson’s music. In 2015, she released the song “Piece by Piece,” a deeply personal track that referenced her experience with abandonment and healing through her then-partner. “Piece by piece, he collected me up / Off the ground where you abandoned things,” she sings on the title track. Following their split, Clarkson reworked the lyrics during live performances to reflect a more independent and self-sufficient narrative.

Blackstock was also known for his connection to country legend Reba McEntire, who was previously married to his father. McEntire often spoke fondly of Clarkson during their marriage, once calling her “my buddy” and saying, “To have my buddy as my daughter-in-law, who could ask for more?”

Though their marriage eventually ended, Blackstock remained an important part of Clarkson’s life as a co-parent to their two children. His passing is a loss, not only to the music industry but also to a family balancing fame and personal grief.

No memorial details have been announced at this time.