Shelby Blackstock reflects on the end of hunting season, his first without his brother, Brandon (Photo Credit: Shelby Blackstock)
Shelby Blackstock Has Been Grieving The Loss Of His Brother, Brandon
Brandon Blackstock passed away on August 7, 2025 after a years-long battle with cancer. He left behind four children, Savannah, Seth, River, and Remington, sisters Shawna and Chassidy, brother Shelby, father Narvel, and stepmom Reba McEntire.
Following Brandon’s death, Shelby, whose mom is McEntire, paid tribute to him on Instagram, sharing several photos of them over the years with their family.
“Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family—funny, bright, and full of life—and he will be deeply missed,” he wrote. “He taught me so much, leaving behind countless cherished memories that I will hold onto forever. For every treasured moment we shared, there are so many more we’ll never get to make together, but I know you’ll still be there. Every hunt, every flight, and in the everyday moments of life, I’ll feel your presence.”
Brandon’s birthday was on December 16th, and Shelby once again honored his only brother.
“Happy 49th birthday, Brandon. I think about you every day, and it’s still hard to believe you’re gone. This morning felt strange not making that 5am birthday call just to be the first one. You never know how special those moments are until they’re gone,” he wrote.
Shelby Went Hunting Solo On The Last Day of Deer Season
Sunday, January 4th was the final day of deer season in Tennessee and several other states. Shelby took in the last day of deer season by going to a farm he and Brandon spent lots of time at over the last 30 years.
“Final [deer] hunt on this farm…1996-2026,” he captioned a photo he shared on his Instagram Story.
It’s clear Shelby and Brandon had an incredibly close relationship, despite their 14-year age difference. Earlier in the day, Shelby shared a quote on his Instagram Story that he said “stung,” especially since he would normally spend the last deer hunting day of the season with his brother.
The quote was, “One day you’ll realize the real trophy wasn’t the deer…it was the time spent with the man who taught you how to hunt.”
A while later, he shared a video from inside the blind, which he revealed Brandon built.
“It has been an epic morning. Emotional, but epic,” he said. “Today is the final day of deer season for 2025, but it is the final deer hunt on this family farm that I’ve hunted all my life. Most of my cherished memories of my brother is from here. I’m actually hunting in the blind that he built with his friends.”
Shelby continued, “This morning has been epic. It’s been cold, frost, watched the full moon all morning, a bald eagle roosted next to me, seen 30 deer, 2 deer on the ground. Of course my brother did have a bit of a funny moment. A decent eight-point walked out. [I] pulled the gun up…and this blind that he built, some smart person decided to put a tin roof on. So when my gun came up [BANG], and they all went running….Thanks, Brandon.”
He hit the roof of the blind to show just how loud it was to cause the deer to run away.
“It’s been a morning to remember, and thank you so much for this property,” he said into the camera.
Shelby then showed off the blind that Brandon built, which looks like it has been run down and well-used. Shelby even showed the back of the blind, where his brother had carved “Blackstock” into the side.
It was an obviously bittersweet day, but we’re so glad he was able to smile through the tough day and get a sign from his brother.
Watch the video below.
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