Dolly Parton offered heartfelt words to her friend and fellow musician Kelly Clarkson following the death of Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
During an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on Tuesday, August 12, the country music icon gave Clarkson, 43, a message that drew on insight gathered after Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, passed away at the age of 82 earlier this year.
“I think you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone and you just try to remember the very best of all that,” Parton, 79, said. “Take their energy that they have given you … and kinda just recycle that and let that become a part of you.”
Parton, who was married to Dean for more than 60 years, continued, “Just honor their memory and just know they’re in a better place than we are these days.” (No official cause of death was announced by Parton.)
Parton added that while she is yet to personally reach out to Clarkson, she will “catch up with her” once she’s wrapped promotional duties around the release of her book “Star of the Show: My Life on Stage.”
Us Weekly confirmed on Monday, August 11, that Blackstock passed away as a result of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. His death at the age of 48 was confirmed by a rep for the family who said in a Thursday, August 7, statement that Blackstock “bravely battled cancer for more than three years.”
Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson Steve Granitz/WireImage
The statement also noted that Blackstock “passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”
One day prior to the family’s announcement, Clarkson, who was married to Blackstock from 2013 to 2022 and shared daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9, with him, informed fans of her ex-husband’s ailing health and paused her Las Vegas residency.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” Clarkson said in an Instagram statement on August 6. “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. I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”
Blackstock’s stepmother, Reba McEntire, broke her silence on the tragedy while responding to a Friday, August 8, Instagram tribute shared by her son, Shelby Blackstock. (McEntire, 70, shares Shelby with her ex Narvel Blackstock.)
“Words cannot begin to capture the tremendous loss our family has endured. Yesterday, we lost a brother, a father, a grandfather, and a son,” Shelby initially wrote. “Brandon Blackstock was an irreplaceable part of our family—funny, bright, and full of life—and he will be deeply missed.”
McEntire responded three days later, “Very well said Shelby. Yes we will miss him so much.”
She also shared more of her thoughts via Instagram on Tuesday. “Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God’s presence,” McEntire wrote alongside a carousel of photos that showed the pair enjoying time together. “There is no one else like him, and I’m thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again.”
Clarkson is yet to speak publicly about her and her family’s loss.
