Brandon Blackstock’s Brother Speaks for the Family: ‘We Will Always Miss You’

The 35-year-old half-brother to Brandon took to Instagram to share a touching, very brotherly statement.

There’s a 13-year age gap between the two Blackstock men, but Shelby’s words and photos prove they were very close.

“He taught me so much, leaving behind countless cherished memories that I will hold onto forever,” he shares.

“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.”

“And although it may annoy you, you’ll have to watch me do it all just a little better, a little smoother, and — let’s be honest — looking far more handsome than you ever could in the process,” Shelby Blackstock continues.

“We will always miss you, Brandon, and we will never stop loving, remembering and celebrating you.”

Is Brandon Blackstock Reba McEntire’s Son?

Brandon Blackstock was Reba McEntire’s stepson, not her biological son. She says she loved and treated him like family during her marriage to Narvel Blackstock. It’s not clear how close they remained after the divorce.

The talent manager’s birth mother is Narvel Blackstock’s first wife, Elisa Gilbert. Hollywood Life shares that the couple was married from 1973 to 1988.

How Did Brandon Blackstock Die?

Blackstock’s illness didn’t become public until Aug. 6, when Clarkson shared that she was canceling dates in Las Vegas to be present for her children during a difficult time.

“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.”

He had been battling melanoma.

Blackstock left behind four children, including two with his first wife.

Kelly Clarkson’s Body Transformation in 31 Pictures

More important than these 31 pictures of Kelly Clarkson’s stunning weight loss journey are the details of how and why she gained and lost the weight.

The singer has dealt with serious medical conditions since 2006. Add two kids, the stress of life, career and divorce and getting older — yeah, we totally get how she gained a few pounds.

In 2025, she’s as fit as she’s ever been, and that’s because she began to take her doctor’s advice seriously. Medicine helped, but it’s not what you think.

Keep scrolling to see the ups and downs of the American Idol winner’s road to good health.

Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes

July 2002

Ray Mickshaw, WireImage Via Getty Images

July 2002

We first met Kelly Clarkson when she tried out for – and eventually won — Season 1 of American Idol in 2002.

July 2002

Kevin Winter, Getty Images

July 2002

The Texas raised singer impressed millions with her voice and girl-next-door personality.

August 2003

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

August 2003

This is “Miss Independent” era Kelly Clarkson. Her hair looks quite a bit shorter in this photo from the 2003 Teen Choice Awards. She certainly looked more mature.

December 2003

Carlo Allegri, Getty Images

December 2003

Throughout this gallery you’ll notice that Clarkson shifted between straight and curly hair, depending on the occasion and her mood.

November 2004

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

November 2004

There was a lot of style consistency during the first two years of Clarkson’s career. That’s about to change.

May 2005

Brad Barket, Getty Images

May 2005

By 2005, Clarkson had hits like “Since U Been Gone” and “Because of You.” She also added an edge to her style.

August 2005

Evan Agostini, Getty Images

August 2005

Kelly Clarkson kept it blonde throughout most of 2005. Here she is at the MTV Video Music Awards.

May 2006

Mark Mainz, Getty Images

May 2006

Doesn’t 2006 Kelly Clarkson look a bit like Tiffani Amber Thiessen? This picture from the ACM Awards is her first for country music photogs.

August 2007

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

August 2007

Professionally, 2007-09 were quiet years for Clarkson (or at least quieter years). You’ll really begin to see a shift in her appearance over the next four to five years.

March 2009

Florian Seefried, Getty Images

March 2009

Here is Kelly Clarkson in Austria in 2009. She’s at the Women’s World Awards.

November 2009

Jason Merritt, Getty Images

November 2009

Dark eye shadow and crimped hair were Clarkson signatures in late 2009. We couldn’t find any red carpet pictures from 2010.

March 2011

Mike Moore, Getty Images

March 2011

Kelly Clarkson was fully embraced by country music fans by 2011. Her Jason Aldean duet was just a year old, and she’d already gone on the road with Reba McEntire. In March 2011 she attended a charity event with Reebs in Arizona.

May 2012

Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

May 2012

The Stronger album was a turning of the page for Clarkson. The title track became her first No. 1 hit in three years. A greatest hits package released at the end of the year would feature a great Vince Gill duet called “Don’t Rush.”

April 2013

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

April 2013

At the 2013 ACM Awards, Clarkson got a chance to sing “Don’t Rush.” She’d marry Brandon Blackstock six months later.

November 2014

Larry Busacca, Getty Images

November 2014

Kelly Clarkson had a 5-month-old at home when this picture was snapped in late 2014. These next few years are her mom years.

May 2015

David Becker, Getty Images

May 2015

Kelly Clarkson’s last Top 10 hit came in 2015. It was “Piece by Piece,” from an album of the same name. Soon she’d begin a transfer to television.

October 2017

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

October 2017

Here is Kelly Clarkson at Variety‘s Power of Women event in California in fall 2017.

November 2017

Bryan Bedder, Getty Images

November 2017

Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock’s second child was born in April 2016.

January 2018

Jared Siskin, Getty Images

January 2018

Kelly Clarkson slimmed down after baby No. 2. You’ll start to see it over the next few pictures, taken from 2017 to about 2020. It was more than just a lifestyle change, however.

April 2018

John Sciulli, Getty Images

April 2018

By summer 2018, Clarkson had revealed that she’d been managing an autoimmune condition and a thyroid condition since 2006. Talking to Today, she said the dramatic weight loss was a side effect of controlling the later.

A new diet is to credit, she shared. “I don’t work out,” she told the TV program. “I should … I do wine instead.”

May 2018

Phillip Faraone, Getty Images

May 2018

By mid-2018, Kelly Clarkson was in talks to begin hosting a daytime talkshow on NBC. She’d tell Hoda Kotb she lost about 40 pounds during this transformation.

June 2018

Mike Coppola, Getty Images

June 2018

One month made little difference in Clarkson’s appearance, but those earrings requested a moment.

April 2019

Ethan Miller, Getty Images

April 2019

Meet 37-year-old Kelly Clarkson. She was a singer, TV host, mother, wife and entrepreneur at this point. Her world would begin to crumble within a few years. Blame COVID and a divorce.

January 2020

Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

January 2020

In January 2020, Clarkson posed for this picture at the Critic’s Choice Awards. Soon after, the world would go dark due to the pandemic.

December 2021

Trae Patton, NBC Via Getty Images

December 2021

When people talk about Kelly Clarkson’s recent weight loss journey, they’re specifically comparing these next three pictures with the four that follow. It’s an astonishing transformation.

April 2022

Araya Doheny, Getty Images

April 2022

This picture was snapped in April 2022, around the time her divorce to Blackstock was finalized. It was an arduous, messy affair that made plenty of headlines.

March 2023

Joe Scarnici, Getty Images

March 2023

In 2023, Clarkson moved from California to New York City. That was really the start of her most recent weight loss journey.

She’d later say she weighed 203 pounds (on a 5 ft., 3 in. frame) at her heaviest, and yes, she did use medication to help shed pounds. It wasn’t Ozempic, but another drug that helps her body process sugar.

A high protein diet and listening to a doctor who’d been begging her to make changes also helped.

October 2023