The Tragic End Of A Bitter Battle: The Latest On Kelly Clarkson's Ex-Husband, Brandon Blackstock

The saga of Kelly Clarkson and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, has finally reached a tragic and definitive conclusion. Just this past year, the protracted and highly public divorce battle—which spanned years and involved millions of dollars in spousal support and legal fees—was overshadowed by the sudden and shocking news of Brandon Blackstock’s death. This article, updated in December 2025, delves into the full scope of their relationship, the bitter financial fallout, and the surprising, heartbreaking final chapter of a marriage that captivated the entertainment world. The legal and financial disputes, which continued long after their 2022 divorce finalization, have now taken a new, complicated turn, pivoting from a personal battle between two ex-spouses to an ongoing legal war between Kelly Clarkson and the Blackstock family's business entity, Starstruck Management Group. The story is a complex web of love, money, and professional entanglement that ended in unexpected tragedy.

Brandon Blackstock: A Complete Biography and Tragic Final Chapter

The man at the center of one of Hollywood’s most contentious divorces, Narvel Brandon Blackstock, was an established figure in the music industry long before his relationship with Kelly Clarkson. His life was deeply rooted in the world of country music and television production.

• Full Name: Narvel Brandon Blackstock
• Date of Birth: December 16, 1976
• Date of Death: August 7, 2025
• Age at Death: 48
• Place of Birth: Fort Worth, Texas
• Cause of Death: Cancer (Melanoma), following a three-year battle
• Place of Death: His home in Butte, Montana, under hospice care
• Parents: Narvel Blackstock (Music Manager) and Elisa Gayle Ritter
• Notable Family Ties: Former stepson of country music legend Reba McEntire (Narvel Blackstock was married to McEntire from 1989 to 2015).
• Career: Talent Manager, Television Producer, and Licensed Pilot
• Management Clients: Previously managed Kelly Clarkson, Blake Shelton, and Rascal Flatts.
• Children: Savannah and Seth (from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth); River Rose and Remington Alexander (with Kelly Clarkson).
• Relationship Status at Death: Was in a happy relationship with a "loving partner," according to his obituary.
• Estimated Net Worth: $10 million at the time of his death.

Brandon Blackstock's professional life was intertwined with his personal life, a dynamic that ultimately fueled the divorce's most acrimonious financial battles. He served as Kelly Clarkson's manager for years through his father's company, Starstruck Management Group. This professional relationship became the central point of contention once the marriage dissolved. The tragic news of his passing in August 2025, after a private three-year battle with cancer, brought a sudden, somber halt to the personal feud, though the legal fallout continues.

The $2.6 Million Clawback and Financial Fallout

The core of the Blackstock-Clarkson split was never just about custody or property; it was a complex financial dispute centered on Brandon’s role as her manager. Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce in June 2020, citing irreconcilable differences, but the financial entanglement proved far more difficult to untangle.

The Divorce Settlement Details

The divorce was finalized in March 2022, revealing a staggering financial arrangement. * Spousal Support: Clarkson was ordered to pay Blackstock a substantial $115,000 per month in spousal support. This obligation, however, was not indefinite; it was set to expire in January 2024. * Child Support: Clarkson was ordered to pay Blackstock $45,601 a month in child support for their two children, River Rose and Remington Alexander, though she has primary custody. * The Montana Ranch: The former couple’s massive $17.75 million Montana ranch was a major point of contention. Clarkson was ultimately awarded the property, though Blackstock was granted permission to live there until June 2022, provided he paid the maintenance costs. * One-Time Payment: Clarkson also had to pay Blackstock a one-time, tax-free payment of $1.3 million.

The Commission Repayment Order

The most significant financial blow to Blackstock came in November 2023, when a California labor commissioner ruled in favor of Kelly Clarkson in a separate legal action. Clarkson had filed a suit alleging Blackstock and Starstruck Management had overcharged her for commissions on several major deals, including her role as a coach on The Voice, her lucrative deal with Norwegian Cruise Line, and her hosting gig for the Billboard Music Awards. The ruling was a massive victory for Clarkson, ordering Blackstock to repay her over $2.6 million in commissions. Blackstock had been fighting this order, denying any wrongdoing, but the legal obligation remained in place at the time of his passing.

The Ongoing Legal War with Starstruck Management Group

While the personal divorce battle concluded with the settlement and the subsequent tragic death of Brandon Blackstock, the legal war over money continues with his family's company. This is the freshest and most complex aspect of the entire saga.

The Initial Lawsuit (Starstruck vs. Clarkson)

The legal battle began in 2020 when Starstruck Management Group, owned by Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, sued Kelly Clarkson. The company alleged that Clarkson owed them over $1.4 million in unpaid commissions, claiming she had breached an oral contract. Starstruck had managed Clarkson’s career for over 13 years, a period that included her rise to superstardom.

Clarkson's New Cross-Complaint

In a strategic counter-move, Clarkson filed a cross-complaint against Starstruck, alleging that the company, and by extension Brandon Blackstock, had violated the California Labor Code by acting as unlicensed talent agents. This is the basis of the $2.6 million repayment ruling. Even after Blackstock’s death, the legal fight between Clarkson and Starstruck Entertainment, the company founded by her former father-in-law, Narvel Blackstock, is ongoing. The case is now a battle of estates and corporate liability, determining whether Starstruck Management is responsible for the alleged over-commissioning and if Clarkson is still legally obligated to pay any outstanding fees to the company that once managed her career. The recent filing of a new lawsuit by Clarkson suggests a renewed push to finalize the financial separation from the Blackstock family business once and for all. The ongoing legal proceedings ensure that the financial shadow of her former marriage and management team will continue to loom over Kelly Clarkson, even as she focuses on her successful talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and her music career. The entire ordeal has shone a light on the complex, often messy reality of combining personal and professional relationships in the high-stakes world of celebrity management.