Inside Kelly Clarkson’s Close Bond With Estranged Husband Brandon Blackstock’s Former Stepmom, Reba McEntire

Credit: Sipa/Shutterstock; Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Steve C Mitchell/EPA/Shutterstock

Inside Kelly Clarkson’s Close Bond With Estranged Husband Brandon Blackstock’s Former Stepmom, Reba McEntire

Just two peas in a pod! Kelly Clarkson’s close friendship with Reba McEntire is too cute for words.

Clarkson and McEntire became friends after they performed together during the season 1 finale of American Idol in 2002. Years later, the Voice judge began dating Brandon Blackstock — the son of the Reba alum’s ex-husband Narvel Blackstock. The “Love So Soft” singer wed Brandon in 2013 and they later became the parents of two children: River Rose and Remington Alexander.

In 2018, Clarkson sang the “Fancy” singer’s praises while giving a speech in her honor. “I’ve been a fan of Reba since I was a little girl,” the American Idol alum said at the Kennedy Center Honors. “Her voice has always felt nostalgic for me. Even as an adult, there’s something about her tone and her storytelling that just feels like home.”

Clarkson added, “Sometimes when we meet our heroes, it doesn't always pan out how you hope. But meeting Reba, being friends with her and eventually becoming family has been one of the highlights of my life, truly."

McEntire and Narvel announced their separation in 2015. Us Weekly revealed at the time that Clarkson was the one who initially encouraged them to stay together, even though they had already “been living apart” for two years.

[jwplayer 0DeP5gl2-l3ahXupL]

“Kelly urged them not to split and she’s the reason they didn’t split earlier,” an insider previously shared. “She was really fighting for them to make it work and stay together.”

Even after McEntire was no longer married to Narvel, she still remained close to Clarkson. “She married my oldest son, Brandon, but we’re also good friends,” she told Us in March 2019. “So that goes a long way — when you can have a good friend as a part of your family.”

Us confirmed on Thursday, June 11, that Clarkson and Brandon had called it quits after nearly seven years of marriage. According to court docs obtained by Us, the “Since U Been Gone” singer cited “irreconcilable differences” and listed their split date as June 4.

The case has been classified as “dissolution with minor children” due to the estranged pair’s two children. Brandon also shares Savannah and Seth with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth.

Scroll down to see a glimpse at Clarkson and McEntire’s close friendship.

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Credit: Sipa/Shutterstock; Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; Steve C Mitchell/EPA/Shutterstock

Inside Kelly Clarkson’s Close Bond With Estranged Husband Brandon Blackstock’s Former Stepmom, Reba McEntire

Just two peas in a pod! Kelly Clarkson’s close friendship with Reba McEntire is too cute for words.

Clarkson and McEntire became friends after they performed together during the season 1 finale of American Idol in 2002. Years later, the Voice judge began dating Brandon Blackstock — the son of the Reba alum’s ex-husband Narvel Blackstock. The “Love So Soft” singer wed Brandon in 2013 and they later became the parents of two children: River Rose and Remington Alexander.

In 2018, Clarkson sang the “Fancy” singer’s praises while giving a speech in her honor. “I’ve been a fan of Reba since I was a little girl,” the American Idol alum said at the Kennedy Center Honors. “Her voice has always felt nostalgic for me. Even as an adult, there’s something about her tone and her storytelling that just feels like home.”

Clarkson added, “Sometimes when we meet our heroes, it doesn't always pan out how you hope. But meeting Reba, being friends with her and eventually becoming family has been one of the highlights of my life, truly."

McEntire and Narvel announced their separation in 2015. Us Weekly revealed at the time that Clarkson was the one who initially encouraged them to stay together, even though they had already “been living apart” for two years.

[jwplayer 0DeP5gl2-l3ahXupL]

“Kelly urged them not to split and she’s the reason they didn’t split earlier,” an insider previously shared. “She was really fighting for them to make it work and stay together.”

Even after McEntire was no longer married to Narvel, she still remained close to Clarkson. “She married my oldest son, Brandon, but we’re also good friends,” she told Us in March 2019. “So that goes a long way — when you can have a good friend as a part of your family.”

Us confirmed on Thursday, June 11, that Clarkson and Brandon had called it quits after nearly seven years of marriage. According to court docs obtained by Us, the “Since U Been Gone” singer cited “irreconcilable differences” and listed their split date as June 4.

The case has been classified as “dissolution with minor children” due to the estranged pair’s two children. Brandon also shares Savannah and Seth with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth.

Scroll down to see a glimpse at Clarkson and McEntire’s close friendship.

[podcast_block]

Credit: Steve C Mitchell/EPA/Shutterstock

Working Together

The duo performed together in 2002 on American Idol, in 2007 for CMT Crossroads and in 2009 when they sang Clarkson’s song “Because of You.” They also hit the road together for the 2 Worlds 2 Voices Tour in 2008.

Credit: Joe Cavaretta/AP/Shutterstock

Fangirling Over Each Other

“Anytime I can sing with Kelly is a thrill for me,” McEntire told CMT Crossroads in April 2020, adding: “Just to be on the same stage with her was a blast.”

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Leaning on One Another

Clarkson thanked McEntire at the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors “for listening to me vent as an artist” and “comforting me on the phone through my tears like a friend.”

Credit: Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Missing Each Other

“We don’t get to see each other as much as we used to, and I hate that,” she previously told E! News in 2018.

Credit: Greg Allen/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; ason Merritt/Radarpics/Shutterstock

Double Dating Together

McEntire and Clarkson went on a double date with Narvel and Brandon in 2015 at Muhammad Ali’s annual Celebrity Fight Night March 28 in Phoenix, Arizona.

Credit: NBC

Not Just Family, But Friends

When McEntire was a guest on Clarkson’s The Kelly Clarkson Show in September 2019, the pair talked about their close bond. “I ended up marrying her oldest son and you got stuck with me more,” Clarkson said at the time, to which McEntire responded, “Thank goodness.”