Cause of Death Confirmed For Kelly Clarkson's Ex Brandon Blackstock

Brandon Blackstock, a Nashville music manager and former husband of singer Kelly Clarkson, passed away at the age of 48 on August 7, at his home in Butte, Montana. He died peacefully while under hospice care, surrounded by family. The cause of death has been confirmed as melanoma, a type of skin cancer, with the manner of death classified as natural causes, according to Silver Bow coroner Dan Hollis in a statement to People magazine.

Melanoma originates in melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing the pigment that gives skin its color. Although the exact cause of melanoma is not definitively known, it is often associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from sunlight or tanning beds, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.

Following his death, Starstruck Entertainment, where Blackstock was employed, expressed grief in a 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."

The announcement of Blackstock's death coincided with Clarkson's decision to postpone her scheduled residency shows in Las Vegas, allowing her to spend time with their two children, River and Remington, during Blackstock's illness. The couple, who married in 20143, welcomed their first child, River, in 2014, followed by Remington in 2016. Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, and after a protracted legal process, the divorce was finalized in 2022.

In addition to his two children with Clarkson, Blackstock is survived by a daughter, Savannah, and a son, Seth, from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth, as well as a young grandson named Lake.