Parents

Reba McEntire reminisces on raising ‘precious’ Brandon Blackstock in emotional interview

Reba McEntire is remembering her late stepson, Brandon Blackstock.

“My relationship with my stepson, Brandon Blackstock, was precious,” the singer death from cancer in August at the age of 48. “I absolutely loved that child.”

McEntire, 70, shared that she started dating Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, when Brandon was just 4 years old. They tied the knot in 1989 but eventually called it quits in 2015.

Reba McEntire reminisced about her late stepson in a new interview. Instagram/@reba
Blackstock died of skin cancer in August 2025. He was 48. @savannahb_lee/Instagram

“When Narvel and I got married, he was 13, 14,” McEntire remembered, adding that she was an active participant in Brandon’s upbringing.

“Along with his mom and dad, I helped raise him, along with [Narvel’s other kids] Shawna and Chassidy. They were my kids.”

McEntire and Narvel, 69, went on to have one child together, son Shelby, now 35.

The country singer first met Brandon when he was 4 and she was dating his dad, Narvel Blackstock. Instagram/@reba
McEntire helped raise Brandon and his siblings when she married Narvel. Larry Busacca/ACM2015

“The Voice” coach called Brandon a “funny” kid who loved to “pull pranks.”

“He loved to scare people,” she shared, including Narvel’s employees at Starstruck Entertainment, where he would hide behind a pillar to give someone a scare.

Brandon also loved to prank his family members.

“If you ever parked your car in front of the house at a family dinner, you better take your keys,” McEntire explained. “Or he would take that car and drive it all the way around to the greenhouse, and you’d have to walk in the dark and go get your car.”

“The Voice” coach remembered Brandon as a “funny” kid who loved to pull pranks. Instagram/@reba
Brandon was married to Kelly Clarkson from 2013 to 2022. WireImage

McEntire also told People that “Brandon is sorely missed, truly missed with his mischievousness and his love of life.”

“He brought joy to everybody that met him, and we’ll never forget him,” she added.

Brandon shared two children — Savannah, 23, and Seth, 18 — with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth, whom he was married to from 2001 to 2012.

He later said “I do” to Kelly Clarkson. They tied the knot in 2013 and went on to welcome two children: River, 11, and Remy, 9.

Clarkson contentious custody battle, but still remained close to McEntire.

The couple shared two children, along with Blackstock’s children from a former marriage. MediaPunch / BACKGRID
A statement following his death revealed that Brandon had been battling cancer for three years. MediaPunch / BACKGRID

As Page Six reported earlier this year, Brandon died after a private, years-long battle with melanoma.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a family spokesperson told Page Six in a statement following his death.

“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.”

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