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In The Voicelosing Brandon Blackstock was a coup for Reba McEntire.
Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, passed away last summer.
Naturally, the tragic loss of his stepson emerged in song form.
A beautiful and moving performance hit too close to home for Reba. But that wasn’t a bad thing.
Reba McEntire had a bittersweet experience on ‘The Voice’
On Monday, October 27. episode of The VoiceReba McEntire couldn’t help but think about the passing of Brandon Blackstock.
Music is an evocative experience that evokes emotions and memories; second only to smell when it comes to unearthing the past.
Reba felt that personally when Team Reba artist Aubrey Nicole sang during the episode.
“I’m Gonna Love You Through It” is a song by Martina McBride.
The lyrics follow a couple battling a cancer diagnosis.
“Martina is a good friend of mine,” Reba commented after the performance.
She acknowledged: “I lost my oldest son because he didn’t win with cancer.”
Reba was referring, of course, to her stepson Brandon Blackstock. He died on August 7, at the age of 48, after a battle with melanoma.
“That was a real reminder that life goes on,” Reba said. “And we sing songs about it so we can remember those around us, who we love so much and who we lean on in times like this.”
He praised Aubrey Nicole, saying, “You did a great job.”
Brandon Blackstock was a part of her life for most of her life.
Sometimes adults get married and find themselves with an adult stepchild whom they see several times a year and gradually get to know, if at all.
But things weren’t that way for Reba.
He married Narvel Blackstock in 1989. The two separated in 2015, after Brandon married Kelly Clarkson.
To put this in perspective, Brandon was a part of Reba’s life throughout Taylor Swift’s life.
When she talks about losing him, she’s talking about someone she knew and loved for almost 40 years.
Last week, my stepson/oldest son, Brandon Blackstock, went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is at eternal peace in the presence of God. There is no one like him and I am grateful for the time we had together. His legacy and his laughter will continue through his… pic.twitter.com/vIQF6CmFdI
—Reba McEntire (@reba) August 13, 2025
In August, it fell to Shelby, the half-brother of Brandon Blackstock, Reba McEntire’s son with Narvel, to share the McEntire family’s grief.
“There are no words to describe the tremendous loss our family has suffered,” Shelby wrote at the time.
“Yesterday we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather and a son,” he acknowledged sadly.
The statement concluded: “Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family: funny, bright and full of life, and he will be deeply missed.”
Reba responded with a tasteful addition: “Very well said Shelby. Yes, he will be greatly missed.”
Obviously, she’s talked about this loss before.
Meanwhile, Reba posted her own tribute.
“Last week, my stepson/oldest son, Brandon Blackstock, went home to be with God,” she wrote in a tweet.
“His fight is over and he is at eternal peace in the presence of God,” he announced. “There is no one else like him and I am grateful for the time we had together.”
Reba concluded, “His legacy and laugh will continue through his family. Rest in peace, cowboy. Happy trails until we meet again.”
As many of us know, grief is not a linear progression. Eventually, you will be fine for days or weeks, and then the loss will hit you again. A powerful song can be evocative and bittersweet.
