Inside Brandon Blackstock and Blake Shelton’s Decades-Long Friendship

Brandon Blackstock was connected to Blake Shelton long before his high-profile marriage to Kelly Clarkson. From managing Shelton’s career to sharing personal milestones, the two forged a bond that spanned nearly two decades.

Brandon Blackstock: From Music Management to Meeting Kelly Clarkson

Blackstock grew up in the music industry thanks to his father, Narvel Blackstock, who managed several big-name artists and was married to country music legend Reba McEntire. Following in his father’s footsteps, he joined Starstruck Entertainment, the management company behind Shelton, Carly Pearce, and other chart-topping acts.

It was during rehearsals for the 2006 ACM Awards that Blackstock first crossed paths with Clarkson, who was then managed by Narvel. While romance wasn’t immediate, the introduction set the stage for a relationship that would eventually pull Shelton closer into their orbit.

Years after their first meeting, Blackstock and Clarkson reconnected at Super Bowl XLVI in 2012. Clarkson performed the national anthem, while Shelton sang “America the Beautiful” alongside then-wife Miranda Lambert.

“I was so nervous because it wasn’t that I didn’t want to suck for the millions of people watching,” Clarkson told SiriusXM in 2017, per US Weekly. “I didn’t want to suck because I was trying to impress a guy, I wanted [Brandon] to be like, ‘Damn.’ It had nothing to do with the Super Bowl!”

Blake Shelton’s Role in the Blackstock–Clarkson Wedding

Before Blackstock proposed, Shelton made it clear where he stood. “I told Brandon, ‘Man, you need to grow up and figure out that you need to marry this girl,’” Shelton told Hollyscoop in 2012. “I am going to go on record saying, ‘I will do the music at the wedding or whatever you want to do, I’ll be that guy.’”

True to his word, Shelton not only performed but also officiated the couple’s 2013 wedding at Blackberry Farms in Tennessee. “He totally is, he’s done it before with people,” Clarkson told Entertainment Tonight ahead of the ceremony.

When Clarkson filed for divorce in June 2020, her split from Blackstock quickly turned contentious. While Shelton didn’t publicly address the breakup, TMZ reported in 2021 that he ended his professional relationship with Blackstock.

An insider told Us Weekly at the time, “Blake and Kelly are extremely close. Their friendship and bond goes beyond the business.” The source also noted that Blackstock had largely stepped away from the music industry after the divorce.

On Thursday, August 7, Starstruck Entertainment, the music agency where Blackstock once worked, confirmed his death in a statement to People.

“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.”