Kelly Clarkson has cancelled her appearance at a benefit concert in wake of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock’s death.
She was due to appear at Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum’s Band Together Texas event, held to support victims of the July Texas floods, on Sunday. The organizers shared the news in an Instagram Story, according to Taste of Country. “Unfortunately, Kelly Clarkson will be unable to appear at Band Together Texas as planned, due to personal circumstances,” the statement read. “We send our love to Kelly and her family.”
Lambert and McCollum created the benefit, which will feature performances from both musicians alongside Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Cody Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall, and the Randy Rogers Band. The concert is set for Aug. 17 at Moody Center in Austin and will also include appearances from Texas natives Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, and Chris Harrison.
Clarkson originally announced her participation in the benefit in July, sharing a poster with her name as one of the headliners on Instagram. Her name has since been removed from the lineup.
Blackstock, Clarkson’s ex-husband and the father of her two children, died of melanoma at age 48 on Aug. 7. Shortly after Blackstock died, the talent manager’s family shared a statement announcing his death, but shared few details about his illness. “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years,” Blackstock’s family said. “He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”
The news of Blackstock’s death came just a day after Clarkson postponed several Las Vegas residency shows to be “fully present” with her family and kids while Blackstock dealt with his illness, which had not been made public. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment,” she wrote on Instagram on Wednesday before he died.
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Blackstock was also the stepson of country singer Reba McEntire, who shared a tribute to him on Instagram, remembering his “legacy and laughter,” and the time they lived together. “His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family,” she wrote. “Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again.”
Band Together Texas will benefit the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country and the Central Texas Community Foundation. Tickets are currently on sale and fans outside of Texas can donate via the event’s website.
