Blackstock, who was Clarkson’s manager for nearly a decade, died in August after a battle with skin cancer.

Kelly Clarkson gives rare update on kids 5 months after death of their dad, her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock

Blackstock, who was Clarkson's manager for nearly a decade, died in August after a battle with skin cancer.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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January 11, 2026 4:20 p.m. ET

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Kelly Clarkson with her children, River Rose Blackstock and Remington Alexander Blackstock; their late father, Brandon Blackstock. Credit:

y Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty; Chris Polk/AMA2017/Getty

Kelly Clarkson and her kids are getting stronger by the day.

The "Piece by Piece" singer recently shared a rare update about how her children are coping following the death of their father and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

During a backstage Q&A video uploaded to the* Kelly Clarkson Show *Youtube channel, she was asked to tell the audience the one daily activity that brings her joy. Her answer referenced a sweet moment she likes to have with her and Blackstock's two kids, daughter River and son Remy.

"Snuggle," Clarkson replied. "My kids, they're 9 and 11. They're kind of in that special little fun stage where they can wipe their own behinds but they're still small enough to, like, love cuddling and love snuggles."

Kelly Clarkson with her kids, River Blackstock and Remy Blackstock.

Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty

She continued, "There's been a lot for our family recently, and so I have allowed my kids to sleep with me quite a bit."

Clarkson added that she certainly doesn't mind the crowded bedroom since it gives her quality time with River and Remy. "It's my two dogs, my two kids, and me. It's a lot," she quipped. "It's been really special, though, because... the conversations you have during that time are pretty cute. So that's probably my favorite time of day."

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Blackstock, who worked as Clarkson's manager for several years and was married to the singer from 2013 to 2022, died on Aug. 7 from malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, with seizures listed as "significant conditions contributing to death" on his death certificate. He was 48.

One day before, Clarkson announced that she was putting her Las Vegas residency on hold to be with her children in the midst of their father's illness.

Brandon Blackstock in 2020.

Taylor Hill/Getty

"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," Clarkson wrote in an Aug. 6 statement. "I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows, and I so appreciate your grace, kindness, and understanding."

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The following day, Blackstock's family confirmed his death in a statement to *.* "Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years," said a representative for the family. "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."

Shortly after Blackstock's death, Clarkson canceled several scheduled appearances and also missed an episode of *The Voice*, with fellow *American Idol* vet Jennifer Hudson stepping in as a temporary coach for season 29.

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