Kelly Clarkson’s Heartbreaking Revelation About Her Children’s Secret Grief After Losing Their Father Figure

Kelly Clarkson says her kids have been through ‘a lot’ since dad’s death

Kelly Clarkson is sharing an update about her two young children, five months after their father Brandon Blackstock’s death.

“There’s been a lot for our family recently, and so I have allowed my kids to sleep with me quite a bit,” Clarkson said in a video shared on her talk show’s YouTube channel Sunday. “So it’s my two dogs, my two kids and me. It’s a lot.”

River Rose Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, and Remington Alexander Blackstock attend The Hollywood Walk Of Fame Star Ceremony for Kelly Clarkson, September 19, 2022 in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images

“It’s been really special, though, because it’s like the conversations you have during that time are pretty cute. So that’s probably my favorite time of day,” Clarkson continued, adding that her children “love cuddling and love snuggles.”

Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013 and divorced in 2022. They shared two children, daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remington “Remy” Alexander, 9.

River Rose Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, Remington Alexander Blackstock, Brandon Blackstock seen at STXfilm presents the World Premiere of ‘Ugly Dolls’ in Los Angeles, April 27, 2019.
Eric Charbonneau/Getty Images

Clarkson is also mom to Blackstock’s two older children from a previous relationship, Savannah and Seth.

Blackstock, a producer and talent manager who was formerly Clarkson’s manager, died on Aug. 7, 2025, at the age of 48, following a yearslong battle with melanoma, a type of skin cancer.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” a representative for the Blackstock family told ABC News at the time.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer after basal and squamous cell carcinomas. Melanoma tends to lead to death because of its “tendency to spread to other parts of the body, including vital organs like the brain and liver,” the CDC notes.

Clarkson stepped away from her namesake talk show and her Las Vegas residency just prior to Blackstock’s death.

“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,” she wrote on social media at the time. “I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”