SKY YORK JOURNAL News – Reba McEntire shared a unique bond with Brandon Blackstock, a relationship that transcended typical stepchild dynamics.
Reba McEntire didn’t need a fancy word to describe her bond with Brandon Blackstock.
Because when she wed his father Narvel Blackstock in 1989, Brandon and his siblings Chassidy Blackstock and Shawna Blackstock became just family.
“I don’t consider Brandon, Chassidy and Shawna stepchildren,” the singer told The Boot back in 2010. “I claim them all.”
And recently their family—which also includes Reba and Narvel’s son Shelby Blackstock—suffered a tragic loss when Brandon died at the age of 48.
“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” a family rep told NBC News in an Aug. 7 statement. “He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”
**A Family’s Loss**
Brandon Blackstock, son of Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter, passed away at the age of 48 after a courageous three-year battle with cancer. SKY YORK JOURNAL learned that he was surrounded by family at the time of his passing, according to a statement released to NBC News on August 7th.
During Brandon’s lifetime, Reba had let her love for him and his siblings, whose mom is Elisa Gayle Ritter, be known.
“I’m very proud of all my kids. Shawna, Brandon, Chassidy and Shelby!” the Grammy winner tweeted in 2012. “Love them to pieces!!!”
**McEntire’s Affection**
McEntire consistently expressed her deep affection for Brandon and his siblings. In 2012, she publicly declared her pride for all her children: Shawna, Brandon, Chassidy, and Shelby, as reported by SKY YORK JOURNAL. She emphasized her love for them.
And Reba was proud to welcome Kelly Clarkson to the family when she wed Brandon in 2013.
“I think it’s going to be pretty neat,” the actress told Katie Couric that year about having the American Idol winner as a daughter-in-law. “We’ve been buddies for years. First time I met Kelly was in 2002 when she asked me to sing with her at the finale of American Idol. Then we toured together, and we’ve been on vacations all around the world together. So, she was just part of the family.”
