Kelly Clarkson is taking time off to focus on her children following her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock’s death.
A source tells People that the Grammy winner has “been devastated” for her kids, saying “When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake. 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.”
Kelly filed for divorce from Brandon in 2020, but always prioritized her kids’ relationship with him—even when things got messy.
“The divorce was incredibly difficult for her — messy, painful and something she felt terrible about,” the source says. “But she always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad. She never spoke poorly about Brandon to the kids.”
An insider also tells Us Weekly that “Even though they went through an acrimonious divorce, Kelly made a conscious decision to protect Brandon’s privacy until the very end for the sake of their family. He’d been sick for a while, but his health really took a turn for the worse earlier this year. That’s why she was MIA from her talk show. Out of respect, Kelly chose not to say anything publicly until it became clear this week that Brandon wasn’t going to make it.”
A rep for the family announced Brandon’s passing on August 7, saying 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.”
