Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
The country icon once shared that she considers Blackstock as if he were her own son by blood.
Reba McEntire Reflects on Her Deep Connection With Brandon Blackstock Following His Passing at 48
Reba McEntire shared a heartfelt bond with Brandon Blackstock, a relationship that endured even after major changes in their family.
The 70-year-old country music icon was once married to Narvel Blackstock, making her the former stepmother of Brandon. Though the couple divorced in 2015 after 26 years of marriage, McEntire remained close with Narvel’s children — and especially with Brandon, who passed away this week at age 48 following a private battle with cancer.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight in 2021, McEntire expressed the depth of her connection to Brandon. “It feels like Brandon’s been my son forever,” she said. “Even though he’s technically my stepson, I love him as if he were my own flesh and blood.”
Reba and Narvel tied the knot in 1989 and had one son together, Shelby, now 35. Narvel also had three children from a previous marriage — Brandon, Chassidy, and Shawna — whom McEntire has consistently embraced as her own. In a 2010 interview with The Boot, she shared, “I don’t see them as stepchildren. I’ve always claimed them all.”
In December 2023, McEntire told PEOPLE that much of her happiness stems from the wellbeing of her loved ones. “Life is really good right now,” she said. “I’m in a happy place. I’m in love. My kids are healthy. My family’s healthy. That brings me so much joy.”
McEntire and Kelly Clarkson, who married Brandon in 2013, also formed a close relationship. During a 2019 appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Clarkson joked about how their connection had grown stronger over the years: “I married your oldest son, so now you’re stuck with me.” McEntire responded warmly: “Thank goodness, thank goodness.”
When Clarkson and Brandon ended their marriage in 2020, McEntire made it clear she wasn’t taking sides. “I talk to Kelly, we text, and I love them both,” she told ET in 2021. “I can’t pick favorites. I’ve known Kelly for a long time, and I care deeply for them both.”
Clarkson echoed those sentiments in a 2023 interview on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, saying there was no rift between her and McEntire despite the divorce. “Not at all,” she said. “We were friends before Brandon and I were even a couple. We still text. Life doesn’t always work out — and Reba knows that better than anyone. There are no hard feelings. Just feelings.”
In March 2024, Brandon was seen enjoying time with his and Clarkson’s two children — River, 11, and Remington, 9 — at the Houston Rodeo. The family outing included his brother Shelby and McEntire, underscoring how strong their family ties remained.
News of Brandon’s passing was shared by the Blackstock family on August 7. A representative told PEOPLE, “With deep sorrow, we share that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. He fought cancer bravely for more than three years and died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. We ask for privacy and thank you for your prayers during this incredibly hard time.”
Brandon and Kelly first met in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards, back when he was still married to Melissa Ashworth. His father Narvel once managed Clarkson, which brought the two into the same professional orbit — eventually leading to marriage, a family, and lasting memories.
