Since the announcement of Brandon Blackstock’s death at age 48 on August 7, 2025, comments his stepmother made about his divorce have resurfaced. Reba McEntire’s remarks, originally shared in 2021, followed the news that Brandon and Kelly Clarkson were separating in 2020 after seven years of marriage.

Speaking about the former couple’s separation, Reba explained that she wasn’t going to take sides. In an interview, she said, “Kelly and I do talk, we text [sic] and I love them both, and so I can’t play favorites because I’ve been a friend of Kelly for a long time.”

The country music icon was previously married to Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock. After 26 years of marriage, Reba and Narvel released a joint statement in August 2015 announcing their mutual decision to part ways.

Their statement, which appeared on Reba’s website, read, “Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” adding, “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”

By December of that same year, the legendary country singer shared an update about the divorce in a Facebook comment, writing, “Narvel and I are divorced. It was final [sic] October 28.”

Although Brandon and Reba weren’t related by blood, she still considered him her own and only had positive words about him and Kelly. She said“Brandon’s been my son forever [sic] it seems. Although he’s my stepson, I still love him like he’s my total — my blood, so I’m praying for ’em both ’cause I love ’em both.”

In a separate interview, Reba was asked whether she had mentored Kelly or offered her advice, given her own experience with divorce.