- Reba McEntire became Brandon Blackstock’s stepmother when she married his father, Narvel Blackstock.
- The songstress gave her support when Brandon and his wife, Kelly Clarkson, decided to divorce.
- Today, Kelly is thriving and reportedly thinking about dating again.
In August 2015, Narvel Blackstock and his wife, Reba McEntire, shocked the country music scene when they announced they were getting divorced. The couple had been in a marriage for 26 long years!
The legendary country musician said that the divorce wasn’t her idea, and she hadn’t wanted it in any shape, form, or fashion. The separation process between the former couple sadly became messy.
Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock in her dressing room at the 37th Academy of Country Music Awards Show on May 22, 2002 | Source: Getty Images
Reba revealed that their divorce had been finalized by October of that same year. While married to her manager husband, the iconic singer welcomed one child, son Shelby Blackstock, a race car driver.
Narvel, on the other hand, had three children from a previous relationship. One of his offspring was son Brandon Blackstock, formerly married to country music singer and television personality Kelly Clarkson.
Narvel Blackstock and honoree Reba McEntire at the 50th Academy of Country Music Awards on April 19, 2015, in Arlington, Texas | Source: Getty Images
Although Narvel’s children weren’t biologically Reba‘s, she went above and beyond to accept them as her own. The singer even revealed how she sees all her stepchildren and elaborated on the relationship they share.
Reba’s Bond with Her Stepchildren
All in all, Reba has six children, including her biological one. She considers her ex-husbands’ children as her own, too, and the star has never been a fan of the word “stepchildren.” The musician first became a stepmother in 1976 when she married her first husband, rancher Charlie Battles.
The Grammy Award winner became a mother figure to his two then-teenage sons, Lance and Coty Battles. In 1987, Reba and Charles went their separate ways, but she still maintains a close relationship with her stepsons.
The musician then married Narvel in 1989 and became a stepmother to Shawna, Brandon, and Chassidy Blackstock, whom the television producer shares with ex-wife Elisa Gayle Ritter. During a 2010 interview, Reba said she didn’t consider her stepchildren as that because she claimed them all as her own.
Reba McEntire with her son Shelby and daughter Chassidy at the premiere of “Charlotte’s Web” in Hollywood on December 10, 2006 | Source: Getty Images
The “Fancy” songstress only welcomed Shelby in 1990. Besides having a bond with her stepchildren, Reba also built a close relationship and friendship with one of her daughters-in-law.
What Is Reba’s Relationship with Kelly Like?
One of the other people Reba has a strong bond with is her stepson, Brandon’s ex-wife, Kelly. In 2007, Reba and her former daughter-in-law appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to discuss their friendship.
The “American Idol” alum and “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” singer spoke about how they hung out together, even going on hikes despite a 27-year age gap. The pair also went on restaurant dates too.
In June 2023, during a “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen” interview, Kelly elaborated on her bond with Reba, stating, “I mean, we were friends before Brandon and I got together.”
The television show host said she and Reba used to text each other “all the time” before the legendary singer got on “The Voice,” and they continued after. Kelly thought she and her former mother-in-law were “women of sound mind” who knew life sometimes didn’t work out.
The star shared that they had no hard feelings against each other. The pair even worked together on “The Voice” since Kelly’s divorce. The singer also described Reba as one of her major influences regarding music.
Kelly & Brandon’s Divorce
On June 4, 2020, Kelly and Brandon shocked their fans when they announced they were divorcing. At the time, the couple had been together for almost eight years and welcomed two children, River and Remington. Reba wasn’t thrilled when the news broke.
What Was Reba’s Reaction to the Divorce?
In early December 2020, a Closer Weekly source claimed Reba was “torn” over the split because she was close to both parties. The insider said the star adored all her children, including Kelly.
Seth Blackstock, Remington Blackstock, Savannah Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson, River Blackstock, and Brandon Blackstock at the World Premiere of “UglyDolls” on April 27, 2019, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
The source revealed how heartbroken Reba was over the news because she loved Brandon and Kelly like her own. She also allegedly refused to take sides because of how contentious the procedure got.
In June 2020, Closer Weekly’s insider claimed Reba didn’t want to get involved in the former couple’s relationship. She apparently knew the relationship between the two wasn’t going to last forever and allegedly tried giving Kelly a heads-up.
Reba’s Warning to Kelly
Despite her alleged outlook, the country singer reportedly supported the pair’s decision to go their separate ways. According to an insider, Kelly didn’t generally go to her mother-in-law for advice about being a good wife.
However, a few years before the divorce, Reba allegedly gave her unsolicited marriage advice. Brandon’s stepmother reportedly “warned” the “Mr. Know It All” singer about being the center of attention, busy work schedules, and her over-the-top personality.
Brandon and Kelly cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the dissolution of their marriage. An insider said the pair grew apart, and they wanted things to work but had become very different people. Kelly was the one who allegedly told Reba about the divorce.
Breaking the Divorce News to Reba
“The Voice” judge allegedly told Reba about the divorce decision after she and Brandon made the decision without asking her for advice. She opened up to her friend out of the respect she had for her.
Luckily, Reba and Kelly still found a way to communicate despite the latter going through a difficult time. The former’s bond with her stepson also didn’t change much, and she still saw him the same way.
Reba’s Feelings about the Former Couple Now
In October 2021, Reba opened up a bit about her current relationship with Brandon and Kelly. She told Entertainment Tonight that she and Kelly didn’t talk, but they did text, and she still loved her and her stepson.
Reba explained that she wouldn’t play favorites in the failed relationship because Kelly had been her friend for a long time. She also said Brandon had been her son forever despite him being her stepson.
While Kelly had no intention of changing jobs, her ex said he wanted to leave the entertainment industry to focus on being a full-time rancher.
The country musician vowed that she still loved him because he was blood to her and that she was praying for him and his estranged wife. The “I’m a Survivor” singer said that she was rooting for her stepson and former daughter-in-law during that same month.
Reba said she hoped the former couple was healthy and happy and pulled through the current turmoil they were facing. She shared that she prayed people gave the pair the encouragement they needed at the moment. Luckily, Kelly managed to survive the extreme change.
Kelly Healing & Moving On
In August 2021, sources revealed that Kelly was allegedly getting ready to date again. An insider said the singer hadn’t been dating while waiting for her divorce to go through. At the time, Kelly’s divorce was allegedly left with two weeks before it went through.
The source claimed the musician was looking for someone younger and an up-and-coming country singer who understood the music industry and Hollywood. In the meantime, she and Brandon are co-parenting their children.
While Kelly had no intention of changing jobs, her ex said he wanted to leave the entertainment industry to focus on being a full-time rancher on their Montana ranch, where he was staying through the divorce.