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Kelly Clarkson<\/a> scored a hit with a love song that was inspired by her late ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.<\/p>\n In a 2012 interview<\/a>, Clarkson told ABC News Radio that her romance with Blackstock served as her inspiration to record “Don’t Rush,” which featured Vince Gill<\/a> on backing vocals.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m in a relationship and super happy,\u201d she said at the time, \u201cand I don\u2019t think I would have been able to sing this song eight months ago.”<\/p>\n “Love should be celebrated, and this is a great description of where I\u2019m at in my life,” she added. “This is a couple\u2019s skate, not an all-skate song.”<\/p>\n “Don’t Rush” reached No. 23 on Billboard<\/em>‘s Hot Country Songs chart and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Country Duo\/Group Performance at the 56th Grammy Awards.<\/p>\n Blackstock was a well-known figure in Nashville’s music scene.<\/p>\n The son of powerful Nashville executive Narvel Blackstock\u00a0\u2014 who managed and was married to Reba McEntire<\/a> for 26 years\u00a0\u2014 Blackstock followed in his father’s footsteps<\/a>, becoming a high-powered manager whose clients included not only Clarkson, but also Blake Shelton<\/a>.<\/p>\n Blackstock and Clarkson wed in October of 2013. She filed for divorce in June of 2020, and they reached a settlement in March of 2022.<\/p>\n Blackstock privately battled cancer in the last three years of his life. He died<\/a> on Thursday (Aug. 7) at the age of 48.<\/p>\n It’s not clear if the former couple ever renewed their friendship after they finalized their divorce.<\/p>\n However, they\u00a0shared two children\u00a0\u2014 daughter River Rose, 10, and son Remington Alexander, 8\u00a0\u2014 and they remained committed to co-parenting.<\/p>\n Clarkson announced on Wednesday (Aug. 6) that she was postponing the dates<\/a> for her Las Vegas residency as he battled an unspecified illness.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas. While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children\u2019s father has been ill, and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n Clarkson continued, \u201cI am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness, and understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n The news of Blackstock’s death comes after Clarkson had sparked rampant online speculation by repeatedly missing tapings of her daily talk show in 2025.<\/p>\n Funeral plans for Brandon Blackstock are to be announced.<\/p>\n Kelly Clarkson was the winner of the first season of American Idol<\/em> in 2002. From that moment on, Clarkson would instantly become a household name across America. Since, she has sold over 25 million albums and 45 million singles worldwide. Let’s roll back the clock with 25 pictures of Kelly Clarkson young.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Evan Paul<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Kelly Clarkson has purchased a stunning new mansion in California, with the news breaking not long after the pop superstar and TV personality sold her palatial estate outside of Nashville.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nWhat Kelly Clarkson Song Did Brandon Blackstock Inspire?<\/h3>\n
Who Was Brandon Blackstock?<\/h3>\n
What Happened to Brandon Blackstock?<\/h3>\n
Were Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock Close When He Died?<\/h3>\n
25 Pictures of Kelly Clarkson Young<\/h2>\n
See Inside Kelly Clarkson’s Spectacular New California Mansion<\/h2>\n