Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and former manager, dies at 48

NEW YORK (AP) — Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and talent manager, has died of cancer, his family said Thursday. He was 48.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” a representative for the Blackstock family shared in a statement to The Associated Press. “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.”

The news was first reported by People magazine. On Wednesday, Clarkson announced that she was postponing her “Studio Session” concerts in Las Vegas, writing on Instagram, “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them.”

Blackstock was the father to four children, including two from his previous marriageto Melissa Ashworth: Savannah and Seth. He has two young children with Clarkson: River and Remington. Blackstock became a grandfather in 2022, when Savannah gave birth to a son named Lake.

Blackstock and Clarkson met at a rehearsal for the Academy of Country Music Awards back in 2006. They started dating in 2012, after reconnecting at a Super Bowl, and married in October 2013. In 2020, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and requested that she not be required to pay Blackstock spousal support.

The filing asked that the singer’s legal last name be restored to Clarkson and indicated that the couple had a prenuptial agreement. The divorce was contentious, eventually finalized in 2022. In 2024, the pair agreed to settle lawsuits over millions of dollars that he allegedly overcharged her while serving as her manager during their marriage.

Blackstock also formerly represented Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts. He began his career with Starstruck Entertainment, his father Narvel Blackstock’s company. Country legend Reba McEntire was previously married to Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015, and is the mother of Blackstock’s brother Shelby.

Narvel Blackstock managed Clarkson before his son took over.

FILE - Kelly Clarkson arrives with Brandon Blackstock for the ceremonial swearing-in of President Barack Obama at the U.S. Capitol during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington on Jan. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

FILE - Brandon Blackstock, left, and Kelly Clarkson appear at the 25th annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2020. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Brandon Blackstock, left, and Kelly Clarkson appear at the 25th annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 12, 2020. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Brandon Blackstock, from left, Kelly Clarkson appear at the Billboard Music Awards on May 20, 2018, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)