Brandon Blackstock Hid Away In Montana During Final Months Of Cancer As Ex Kelly Clarkson 'Was Not Caring For Him'

Brandon Blackstock spent his heartbreaking final days surrounded by his family, but his ex-wife, Kelly Clarkson, was not his primary caregiver. 

Clarkson and Blackstock’s love story came to an end three years ago, after which he retreated to Montana, where he lived a quiet life, away from the spotlight. 

He remained there until he took his last breath.

The late talent manager spent his final six months focusing on his treatment. However, he also prioritized spending time with his family “more than ever.” 

Sources confirmed to US Weekly that Clarkson did not assume primary care for Blackstock during his health challenges. However, she often took their children to see him, ensuring that they shared cherished moments together as often as possible. 

Although Clarkson “was not caring for Brandon, she did spend a lot of time traveling with her kids to be with him,” the informant added. 

Blackstock and Clarkson had two children together: 11-year-old River and 9-year-old Remington. He also has two kids, Savannah and Seth, with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth.

Blackstock had retreated to a life away from the spotlight when his health started to deteriorate following a three-year battle with cancer. A source noted that although the talent manager worked in entertainment, that was “not his personality” as he preferred to live on his ranch in Montana. 

“He had his ranch and rodeo, but he preferred to go under the radar,” the source said. 

Blackstock previously lived in his ex-wife’s $10 million ranch in Montana. However, the singer won the property in the divorce, and the talent manager was forced to move out and seek alternative housing arrangements. 

Shortly after finalizing his divorce from Clarkson, Blackstock purchased a $1.8 million home in Butte, Montana, where he spent his final years quietly battling for his life. 

The property is a four-bedroom, three-bath ranch, which he purchased in April 2022. Sitting on over 41 acres, the private home featured huge ceilings and scenic mountain landscapes, The Sun reports.

One day before Blackstock took his final breath, Clarkson cancelled the August concerts in her Las Vegas residency.  She took to social media to share an emotional post, writing that she wanted to be there for her kids. 

“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,” the “American Idol” winner wrote. 

Earlier in the year, she also took time off her talk show to support her children as they processed their father’s illness. 

Clarkson has reportedly been hugely affected by Blackstock’s death, having spent nine years married to him. As reported by The Blast, the talent manager’s passing left her feeling “lost.”

“Kelly's life has flipped upside down with Brandon's cancer struggles and now death. She's been blessed with an incredible career and life, but once her marriage ended and once Brandon's health started dwindling, it has been very rough,” an insider shared. 

The source further added that Clarkson held no animosity towards her husband before his death and “never said a bad word” about him. Even though she has been separated from him for almost three years, the loss will leave her “deeply” affected. 

Additionally, Blackstock’s passing has now made talk show host a single parent to her kids, a reality which she is still processing. 

Despite still dealing with her ex-husband’s tragic passing, Kelly Clarkson will continue to further her career as her talk show has officially been renewed for a seventh season. 

The Blast confirmed that new episodes of the show will be released in September. 

News of the show’s renewal comes after several unexpected changes were made to the “A Moment Like This” singer’s schedule. The inconsistencies sparked concerns among fans who were worried about the show’s future. However, in hindsight, the scheduling changes were likely linked to Blackstock’s deteriorating health.