Kelly Clarkson shares an emotional update about how her kids are doing after the death of their father and her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, who succumbed to cancer at 48.
According to PEOPLE, Clarkson engaged in a YouTube question-and-answer session, which was released on the official Kelly Clarkson Show channel. During the session, the Stronger singer responded to a fan who asked her to reveal the one thing she does every day that fills her with joy. The answer she gave melted the hearts of her fans since it revolved around her and Blackstock’s two children, daughter River and son Remington “Remy.”
She said, “Snuggle.”
“My kids, they’re 9 and 11. Kind of 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.”
“It’s my two dogs, my two kids, and me. It’s a lot. 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”, she continued.
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The former stepson of Reba McEntire, Blackstock, was diagnosed with melanoma in 2022. Three years later, his family announced his death at age 48, on August 7, 2025.
His family representative told PEOPLE at the time, “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.”
In addition to Clarkson’s two children, Blackstock has also fathered two children from a previous marriage, Savannah and Seth, and in 2022, became a grandfather when his eldest child gave birth to a son, Lake.
Exclusively speaking to PEOPLE, an insider told earlier this week that Clarkson is “heartbroken” for her kids after the loss of their father.
The source said, “Kelly is obviously heartbroken for her kids. Losing their dad is incredibly painful and confusing. But she’s also very grounded. She’s not someone who falls apart. She looks at life realistically and does everything she can to make things as steady and loving as possible for her kids.”
They further added that Clarkson is currently focused on being “present for her kids.”
“She’s a great mom”, the source added.
In 2020, Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock after approximately seven years of their marriage. As per the reports, their split was finalized two years later. Their divorce was quite bitter, with the two being involved in various legal proceedings. Be that as it may, the source revealed that Clarkson did not overlook the significance of her children’s relationship with their father.
Another source confided to PEOPLE, “The divorce was incredibly difficult for her — messy, painful, and something she felt terrible about. But she always wanted her kids to have the best relationship possible with their dad. She never spoke poorly about Brandon to the kids.”