Reba McEntire is honoring Brandon Blackstock after he died of skin cancer last week. On Tuesday evening, the country icon shared a tribute to her late stepson on Instagram, remembering his “legacy and laughter,” and the time they lived together.
“Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God’s presence,” McEntire wrote in her post. “There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together.”
She ended her note: “His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again.”
McEntire was previously married to Blackstock’s father Narvel Blackstock from 1989 to 2015. In her post, McEntire shared a carousel of photos of her and Blackstock from over the years, including one sweet image of the pair during a fishing trip.
The tribute comes a day after she left a comment on a dedication from her son Shelby Blackstock, Brandon’s half-brother’s Instagram. “We will miss him so much 💔💔🙏💔❤️❤️❤️🙏💔,” she wrote.
In his post, Shelby called Blackstock — who was previously married to Kelly Clarkson — an “irreplaceable part of our family.” He wrote, “Words cannot begin to capture the tremendous loss our family has endured. Yesterday, we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son… [He was] funny, bright, and full of life—and he will be deeply missed.”
Earlier this week, Rolling Stone confirmed that Blackstock died of melanoma on Aug. 7. The Silver Bow County Coroner, Dan Hollis, said that Blackstock died at his home in Butte, Montana, “under hospice care, surrounded by his family.”
Shortly after Blackstock died, the talent manager’s family shared a statement announcing his death, but shared few details about his illness. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” Blackstock’s family said. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”
Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson married in 2013 and had two children: a daughter, River, born in 2014, and a son, Remington, born in 2016. When Clarkson and Brandon wed, McEntire said at the time: “To have my buddy as my daughter-in-law, I mean, who could ask for more?”
