Brandon Blackstock’s life was one that wove together music industry success, high-profile love, family devotion, and, in the end, a quiet, determined fight against cancer that he kept largely out of the public eye.

The former talent manager, known to most as Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and to country fans as the former stepson of Reba McEntire, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones after more than three years battling melanoma. He was 48. His family’s statement to PEOPLE described him as having faced the illness with bravery, thanking friends, fans, and the industry for their respect and privacy during such a personal fight.

In early August, Clarkson had given the first public glimpse into the situation, postponing her Las Vegas residency and explaining that “my children’s father has been ill” and she needed to be fully present for their kids, River Rose and Remington Alexander. It was an uncharacteristic step into personal territory for the singer, who usually keeps family matters private, but it underscored the seriousness of what was happening behind the scenes.

Blackstock’s world extended beyond his two children with Clarkson. He also leaves behind daughter Savannah and son Seth from a previous marriage and became a grandfather when Savannah welcomed a baby boy, Lake, in 2022. Just last year, he was photographed with River and Remington at the Houston Rodeo alongside his brother Shelby and Shelby’s mother, Reba, a rare public moment that now feels even more poignant.

Born into the music business, Brandon was the son of Narvel Blackstock, who built Starstruck Entertainment into one of country music’s powerhouse management companies. He carved out his own career as a respected talent manager, working with artists like Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts, and eventually managing Clarkson herself. She later said she would not have hired him if she had not already seen firsthand how deeply he cared about his clients and how sharp his instincts were in guiding a career.

Kelly Clarkson first met Brandon back in 2006 at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards, when he was still married to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. Years later, they reconnected at Super Bowl XLVI and began dating in early 2012. By October 2013, they were married in Tennessee, and for a time, they seemed like one of the industry’s golden couples. Clarkson’s heartfelt 2015 ballad “Piece by Piece” was inspired in part by the stability she felt in their relationship, especially in contrast to the abandonment she experienced from her father.

By June 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The split was public, drawn-out, and emotionally draining, especially with children involved. The divorce was finalized in March 2022, with Clarkson paying a lump sum settlement of over $1.3 million and monthly spousal and child support for River and Remington. Despite the legal battles, both remained committed to co-parenting.

Behind the headlines, Blackstock was still very much a father first. He split his time between Los Angeles and Montana, sticking to a visitation schedule that allowed him to remain an active presence in his children’s lives, even as Clarkson maintained primary physical custody. Friends say he treasured those weekends and holiday splits, making sure his kids knew they were his priority.

The past three years were a private war for Blackstock. Only those closest to him knew the extent of his battle with melanoma, and the decision to keep it out of the public eye was deliberate. Staff on The Kelly Clarkson Show were aware but stayed silent, respecting the boundaries he and Kelly had set. While the world speculated about Clarkson’s absences from the spotlight, the truth was that she was quietly navigating the demands of career, parenting, and supporting her children through their father’s illness.

Now, the country music and entertainment worlds are left reflecting on a life that intertwined personal and professional legacies. Brandon Blackstock’s career achievements speak for themselves, but for those who knew him personally, his greatest pride was in being a dad and, more recently, a grandfather. He is survived by his four children, grandson Lake, father Narvel, mother Elisa Gayle Ritter, and siblings Shelby, Shawna, and Chassidy.

For Kelly Clarkson, their children, and the rest of his family, the loss is personal and immeasurable. In an industry where so much is lived out loud, Blackstock’s final years were a reminder that some battles are best fought surrounded not by cameras, but by the people who matter most. And in that space, far from stages and spotlights, he lived his last chapter with the same quiet determination that defined so much of his life.