NEED TO KNOW
- Brandon Blackstock’s death certificate has been issued after he died on Aug. 7 at his home in Butte, Montana
- The document verified that the talent manager and former husband of Kelly Clarkson, died of malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, with seizures listed as a “significant condition contributing”
- Blackstock was diagnosed with cancer after his divorce from Clarkson in 2022
Brandon Blackstock’s death certificate has been released, revealing new details about the death of the talent manager and former husband of Kelly Clarkson.
Certified by the Butte-Silver Bow County Clerk and Recorder’s office in Butte, Montana, on Wednesday, Aug. 13 and filed on Thursday, Aug. 14, the death certificate verified that Blackstock died at 11:13 a.m. at his home in Butte on Aug. 7 at the age of 48.
The document also listed his cause of death as malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, and the manner of death as natural causes, confirming what Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis exclusively told PEOPLE on Monday, Aug. 11.
According to the document, Blackstock had cancer for three years and seizures were listed as “significant conditions contributing to death but not resulting in the underlying cause.”
Blackstock’s occupation was listed as a rodeo producer in the rodeo industry. No autopsy was performed and Blackstock was cremated, per the death certificate.
A rep for Blackstock’s family confirmed his death in a statement to PEOPLE on the day he died.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” the statement read. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. 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.”
Married to Clarkson, 43, from 2013 to 2020, Blackstock and the singer finalized their divorce in 2022. The couple shared a daughter, River, 11, and a son, Remington, 9.
Following his death, a source told PEOPLE that Blackstock was diagnosed with cancer following his divorce from Clarkson. A second source revealed that Blackstock moved to Montana after he received his diagnosis.
Clarkson had been “been devastated” for her kids amid their father’s illness, an insider shared with PEOPLE the day after Blackstock died.
“When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,” the source said. “Kelly has always tried to keep things classy. It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She’s been devastated for the kids.”
Clarkson is “staying strong” for their children, another source told PEOPLE.
“Kelly and Brandon had their ups and downs, but at the end of the day, he was the father of her children and she is absolutely heartbroken for them,” the insider said. “Her kids are her entire world, and she’s staying strong for their sake.”
In his obituary, the former talent manager was remembered as a doting father to his four children — daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth, 18, from his marriage to Melissa Ashworth, along with River and Remington, whom he shared with Clarkson.
“But never did his star shine brighter than in his role as a father,” the obituary read. “Nothing mattered to Brandon more than his four beautiful children, Savannah, Seth, River and Remy.”
“To say he was devoted seems cliché. It feels like an overused word, but it is the correct word. He was a devoted father. His four children were and will always be his greatest love and his greatest legacy.”
“Then came his grandchildren…Lake, Julie and LouCasey — who is on the way. They made him a ‘Pa’…and he was born to be a ‘Pa.’”
In addition to his children and grandchildren, Blackstock is survived by father Narvel Blackstock, mom Elisa Gayle Ritter and siblings Shelby, Shawna and Chassidy.