Brandon Blackstock, ex-husband and former manager of Kelly Clarkson, has died.

People Magazine broke the news via a statement from Blackstock’s family, two days after Clarkson revealed that the 48-year-old had been ill, postponing her Las Vegas residency in the process.

A rep for Blackstock’s family issued the following statement: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

Sources have told TMZ that Blackstock had been fighting melanoma, a serious form of skin cancer, for three and a half years. He passed away yesterday morning.

Speculation surrounding Clarkson’s health has been prominent over the past few months, with it touted that she was going to step down from The Kelly Clarkson Show after a string of absences. It now appears, however, that these were connected to Blackstock’s health issues.

“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,” Clarkson wrote in a statement on Wednesday, August 6, apologizing to fans and expressing appreciation for their “grace, kindness and understanding.”

As well as sharing two children with Clarkson, River, 11, and Remington, 9, Blackstock also had two children from a previous marriage, Savannah and Seth. He became a grandfather in 2022 when daughter Savannah gave birth to a son, Lake.

Blackstock and Clarkson first met a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2006. At the time, Blackstock was still married to his first wife, Melissa Ashworth.

“This guy walks by, making everybody laugh. I said, ‘I’m gonna end up with him. I know it,’ ” Clarkson later recalled to PEOPLE.

Several years later, the pair met again at the Super Bowl. They married in 2013, with Blackstock ultimately becoming Clarkson’s manager.

“I wouldn’t have hired Brandon to be my manager if I didn’t see first-hand how great he is at that and how much he cares about Blake,” Clarkson told Marie Claire Claire in 2018.

“And the way that [Blake’s] career has blown up, I would have hired Brandon regardless. He’s really talented at what he does and his mind really does work in a completely different way.”

The couple divorced in 2022.

Rest in peace, Brandon Blackstock.

READ MORE