Grief is never straightforward. It has a way of stirring emotions you didn’t expect—sadness, relief, guilt, love—and sometimes they all arrive at once. For Kelly Clarkson, the loss of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock has reportedly left her grappling with a particularly heavy mix of emotions.
Blackstock, who passed away after a battle with cancer, shared two children with Clarkson: daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. Though their divorce was combative and at times very public, sources close to the singer say she is devastated by his death—and can’t help but wonder if the stress of their breakup may have played some role in his illness.
The Weight of “What Ifs”
“Kelly is aware of talk that stress can impact the body and make someone more susceptible to cancer,” a source told the Daily Mail. “Although the timing could be purely coincidental, she knows how much tension the divorce and lawsuits put on them.”
Their 2020 split was anything but quiet. The pair battled over property, including a Montana ranch, and Clarkson filed a lawsuit accusing Blackstock of unlawfully securing business deals while serving as her manager. At one point, Blackstock was ordered to repay Clarkson millions of dollars.
It’s this tangled history that now lingers in her mind. Even though there’s no scientific way to link the divorce to his cancer, Clarkson reportedly can’t shake the thought that their years of legal and personal conflict may have added to the strain on his health. “It does cross her mind,” another source explained. “And it does make her think that maybe she could have done more, even though that is unrealistic at its core.”
Putting the Past Aside
Despite their painful history, insiders say Clarkson made a conscious decision to put their conflicts behind her once Blackstock became ill. “When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,” a source told People, referring to their children. “Kelly has always tried to keep things classy. It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She’s been devastated for the kids.”
Her priority, above all else, has been River and Remy. Sources close to her emphasize that she rushed to shield them from the more painful realities of their father’s illness while also making sure they knew he was deeply loved. “Being there for her kids is helping her to cope with the onslaught of emotions,” one insider noted.
A Legacy of Fatherhood
Blackstock’s obituary reflected just how important his role as a father was to him. “But never did his star shine brighter than in his role as a father,” it read. “Nothing mattered to Brandon more than his four beautiful children, Savannah, Seth, River, and Remy. To say he was devoted seems cliché. It feels like an overused word, but it is the correct word. He was a devoted father. His four children were and will always be his greatest love and his greatest legacy.”
For Clarkson, that legacy is now in her care as she helps River and Remington navigate a grief that few children should have to endure. Friends of the singer say her focus has shifted almost entirely toward creating stability for her kids, even while she processes her own heartbreak.
Grief, Guilt, and Grace
It’s not unusual for guilt to surface after the loss of someone with whom the relationship was complicated. Even when logic says otherwise, the mind replays moments and decisions, searching for ways it could have gone differently. For Clarkson, that guilt may never fully disappear—but what those close to her point out is that she did what mattered most: she showed compassion, set aside the past, and ensured her children felt loved by both parents in their father’s final chapter.
As she continues to grieve privately, Clarkson is said to be leaning on her children as both anchor and motivation. “She’s been devastated,” one source shared, “but being there for her kids is helping her heal.”
In the end, Blackstock’s story closes with what he cherished most: his family. And for Clarkson, her role now is to carry that love forward for River and Remy, ensuri
