Brandon Blackstock’s First Wife Breaks Silence After His Death, Praises His Parenting and Faith
Hi, I’m Riley Carter. Okay, but like… here’s the update you didn’t know you wanted: Brandon Blackstock’s first wife, Melissa Ashworth, has publicly paid tribute to him after his death and offered a tender look at the man behind the headlines.
Melissa Ashworth posted a heartfelt Instagram tribute over the weekend following Brandon Blackstock’s death on August 7 from melanoma. Married to Blackstock from 2001 to 2012, Melissa’s message focuses less on tabloid backstory and more on who Brandon was to family: “witty, charming and an absolute gentleman who happened to wear cowboy boots, Wrangler jeans, and a cowboy hat,” she wrote. She also described him as the greatest dad, saying he “loved hard and he fought hard.” The post included a black-and-white wedding photo and a candid family shot with their two children: Seth, 18, and Savannah, 23.
Those kids didn’t stay quiet. Their son Seth publicly called Brandon a “hero,” writing that there’s no one else he would want as a father because “no one can be half the man you were to me.” The family portrait Melissa shared puts a human face on a story that’s been played out in headlines about high-profile marriages and legal spats.
For context: Brandon later married Kelly Clarkson in 2013; that marriage ended in divorce too. Clarkson made headlines in recent weeks after postponing her Las Vegas residency, citing Brandon’s health issues and the need to be with their children Remington and River Rose. Her absences from The Kelly Clarkson Show sparked rumors she might be stepping away from the program, which were linked back to Brandon’s declining health. As of this posting, Clarkson has not released a personal public statement about his passing.
Melissa’s post closed on a note of religious faith, saying, “The best thing Brandon has left for his children is they know where he is. I’ve heard it said, ‘Nothing is lost when you know where it is’ and Brandon is with Jesus his Savior.” That framing steers the public conversation away from celebrity spectacle and toward closure, faith, and family grief.
This moment also underscores how complicated public mourning can be when multiple ex-partners, blended families, and famous names are involved. Ashworth’s tribute is measured and intimate, contrasting with the more public drama that often swirls around celebrity relationships. Her emphasis on fatherhood and faith instead of tabloid disputes gives the story a quieter, human center.
What’s next? Expect more family statements, possible remembrances from friends and insiders, and — depending on how Kelly Clarkson chooses to respond — more public attention on how the family navigates this loss. For now, Melissa’s tribute keeps the focus on Brandon as a dad and a man of faith rather than a celebrity headline.
Okay cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Instagram (Melissa Ashworth)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
