Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, has died following a three-year battle with cancer. He was 48.
The family of Blackstock, a music manager who previously worked with Blake Shelton, shared the news of his death in a statement.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the family said. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”
They added, “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
The news of his sudden death came less than a day after Clarkson announced to fans on social media that she needed to postpone the rest of her August “Studio Sessions” Las Vegas dates to tend to her two children amid Blackstock’s health struggles.
“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,” she wrote, in part.
The Grammy winner shared two children with Blackstock: 11-year-old daughter River Rose and 9-year-old son Remington “Remy” Alexander.
Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot in 2013. She filed divorce in June 2020 and their divorce was finalized in 2022 after they reached a settlement. But the two became involved in a legal dispute regarding their professional relationship following their split.
In September 2020, Brandon and his father’s management firm, Starstruck Entertainment, sued Clarkson, alleging she owed the company unpaid commissions. The “Since U Been Gone” singer responded by filing a petition with the California Labor Commission, arguing her ex acted illegally as her manager.
TODAY.com reached out to representatives for Clarkson, Brandon and Narvel Blackstock and Starstruck Entertainment for comment and did not hear back at the time of publication.
Read on to learn more.
A Timeline of Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s Legal Filings
2020: Kelly Clarkson Files for Divorce From Husband Brandon Blackstock
Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s legal battle dates back to 2020, when the singer filed for divorce after nearly seven years of marriage.
During their relationship, Blackstock served as his wife’s manager and was also a producer for her talk show “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” which is produced and distributed by NBCUniversal Syndication Studios. (NBCUniversal is the parent company of TODAY.com.)
After they announced their divorce, Starstruck, the Blackstocks’ company, filed a lawsuit against Clarkson in September 2020. The firm alleged that the singer owed the company $1.4 million in unpaid commissions.
Clarkson then filed a petition with the California Labor Commissioner on Oct. 20, 2020, arguing Starstruck acted “unlawfully.” The hearing did not occur until 2023, according to Clarkson’s latest lawsuit.
2022: Kelly Clarkson Is Ordered to Pay Brandon Blackstock Millions in Divorce Settlement
In 2022, Clarkson and Blackstock reached a settlement in their divorce and agreed to joint legal custody of their children, with Clarkson obtaining primary custody.
Court documents stated that the singer was required to pay her ex-husband a one-time payment of $1,326,161.
In addition, the star was asked to pay monthly spousal support payments of $115,000 through Jan. 31, 2024, and $45,601 in child support monthly until their children reach 18. Clarkson was also required to pay Blackstock a one-time sum of $350,000 for their kids’ private air travel.
When it came to the former couple’s joint assets, Clarkson took ownership of their two Montana properties and California residence. At the time, Blackstock was asked to pay $2,000 a month in rent for one property and $12,500 per month for the other. He was also asked to move out of both properties on or before June 1, 2022.
2023: A Judge Orders Brandon Blackstock to Repay Kelly Clarkson Over $2.6 Million
In November 2023, the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement ordered that Blackstock return $2,641,374 that he was paid in commissions while he was Clarkson’s manager.
Clarkson had accused her ex-husband of unlawfully securing work for her between 2017 and 2020 and taking on work that her talent agents should have handled.
“Under the Talent Agencies Act (TAA), a manager, like any person without a talent agency license, cannot procure or attempt to procure employment for artists,” the California labor commissioner’s ruling said.
In response, Blackstock appealed the decision and requested a trial de novo — or a new trial, according to the California Rules of Court — with the Los Angeles Superior Court. The talent manager did not respond to TODAY.com’s request for comment at the time.
2024: Kelly Clarkson Files New Lawsuit Regarding Labor Laws Violation
Kelly Clarkson filed a new lawsuit against her ex-husband in March 2024, just months after a California agency ordered him to repay the singer over $2.6 million.
Filed on March 11, 2024 in Los Angeles Superior Court, the new lawsuit claimed that Starstruck Entertainment violated labor laws since the beginning of their relationship with Clarkson, which started in 2007.
Clarkson alleged in the lawsuit that Starstruck “was not licensed as talent agents” and argued that the firm never “obtained a talent agency license from the California Labor Commissioner.”
The new court documents alleged that from 2007, Starstruck acted as “unlicensed talent agents” for Clarkson, which equates to “a violation of, among other things, the licensing requirement of Section 1700.5 of the California Labor Code.”
The lawsuit stated that Starstruck entered an agreement to act as Clarkson’s “personal managers” to “attempt to circumvent and evade the licensing requirements and other requirements, restrictions, and regulations of the Talent Agencies Act.”
Clarkson’s legal team sought to declare any agreements between the singer and Starstruck as “void and unenforceable” and requested an “accounting” from the firm of the money it received from Clarkson.
“No monies should be paid by (Clarkson) to Starstruck, and all monies previously paid by (Clarkson) to Starstruck should be disgorged from Starstruck, forthwith,” the lawsuit said.
In other words, Clarkson’s legal team asked for Starstruck to return any money they received while working with the singer, “including, but not limited to, any and all commissions, fees, profits, advances, producing fees, or other monies.”
Clarkson’s most recent cross-complaint furthered the ongoing battle over “commissions, fees, profits, advances, producing fees or other monies” she made while working with the Blackstocks’ firm, court documents show.
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