“She remained protective of him,” Kelly Clarkson reportedly devastated after ex-husband’s death

Kelly Clarkson’s former husband, Brandon Blackstock, passed away on August 7, 2025, after a three-year battle with cancer, and a source for PEOPLE says that the singer is devastated for the kids they share. Clarkson married Brandon Blackstock in 2013, and they have two children together—River, 11, and Remington, 9.

The source for PEOPLE stated that when the Stronger singer found out about her former husband’s sickness, she was protective of him for the children’s sakes. Things took a worse for Brandon’s health earlier in the year:

“When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,” the source says. “Kelly has always tried to keep things classy. It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She’s been devastated for the kids.”

"The divorce was incredibly painful for her,” a source reveals, as Kelly Clarkson’s former husband passes away at 48

Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in 2020, resulting in back-and-forths and acrimony between the couple. The source for PEOPLE detailed Clarkson’s ordeal during the divorce, stating that the singer never spoke about her former husband in a bad light.

"The divorce was incredibly difficult for her — messy, painful and something she felt terrible about,” the source says. “But she always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad. She never spoke poorly about Brandon to the kids.”

In a September 2020 interview with Sunday Today with Willie Geist, the singer expressed her frustrations about the divorce.

"I've been talking to friends who have been through divorce. I don't know how people go through that without having some kind of outlet because it is the worst thing ever for everyone involved.”

The two's divorce was drawn out and finally concluded in 2022. Kelly Clarkson opened up about coparenting with Blackstock in 2023, adding that she always considered her kids' feelings before anything else:

"I ask my kids every night when we're snuggling and I put them to bed, 'Are you happy? And if you're not, what could make you happier?'"

Kelly Clarkson announced on August 6, 2025, that she would postpone her Las Vegas residency due to her husband’s deteriorating health. She apologized to fans who had bought tickets and asked for grace and kindness.

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