In a heartfelt gesture, Dolly Parton extended her condolences and support to Kelly Clarkson following the tragic passing of Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. Blackstock succumbed to melanoma last week at the age of 48. Parton’s words of comfort were imbued with personal understanding, as she herself had experienced the loss of her husband, Carl Dean, just months prior.
Carl Dean, who had always preferred life away from the public eye, passed away in March at 82. He was married to the beloved 79-year-old country legend for an impressive 58 years, a testament to their enduring partnership.
Parton reached out to Clarkson with her thoughtful advice shortly after Reba McEntire, another country music luminary and Blackstock’s former stepmother, publicly addressed his death. McEntire had been part of Blackstock’s life through her marriage to his father, Narvel Blackstock, a film producer. The couple, married from 1989 to 2015, share a son, Shelby, who is Blackstock’s half-brother.
In a brief interview with Entertainment Tonight, Parton encouraged both Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire to cherish the joyful memories they shared with Brandon. Her message of focusing on the positive moments was a gentle reminder of the healing power of reminiscing about happier times.
Blackstock’s father, film producer Narvel Blackstock, was married to McEntire from 1989–2015, and they share a son, Blackstock’s half-brother Shelby, 35.
In a short video interview with Entertainment Tonight, Parton urged Kelly and Reba to focus on the happier memories they had of their late loved one.
Dolly Parton offered her friend Kelly Clarkson advice and words of support in an interview with ET recorded in the wake of the death of Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock; pictured in January in Nashville, Tennessee
Shortly after Clarkson announced she was postponing the remaining dates in August for her Las Vegas residency, it was announced that her ex-husband had died at 48 following a battle with melanoma
Parton’s advice for the 43-year-old singer came from a place of experience, as she lost her husband, Carl Dean (pictured), just five months earlier
‘I think that you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone, and just try to remember the very best of all that,’ Parton said.
She suggested that those dealing with grief should take the ‘energy’ from those better times in the past and ‘just recycle that’ and ‘let that become a part of you.’
Parton added that Clarkson and McEntire should ‘honor their memory,’ and the popular singers could take comfort in knowing that their loved ones ‘are in a better place than we are these days.’
The 9 To 5 singer was also asked about whether she had contacted Clarkson yet to share her condolences after her ex-husband’s death.
‘No, I have not,’ Parton said, adding that she had been so busy promoting her new memoir Star Of The Show: My Life On Stage that she hadn’t had a chance to contact the former American Idol winner.
‘But I will, I’ll catch up with her,’ Parton added.
She also noted that she would have a chance to see McEntire soon in the flesh, as they were going to be working together on the day the interview was taped to handle publicity for her new book.
‘I love Reba and I love Kelly,’ Parton declared, before delving into how difficult it is to keep up with her friends in show business.
‘I think that you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone, and just try to remember the very best of all that,’ Parton said, adding that those happy memories could give Clarkson and McEntire ‘energy’; pictured in June 2024 in Nashville
She added that they could take comfort in knowing that their loved ones ‘are in a better place than we are these days’; pictured in March in Nashville
Blackstock— who shared two young children with Clarkson — was the former stepson to Reba McEntire; pictured March 2025
The country superstar was married to Blackstock’s father, film producer Narvel Blackstock, from 1989–2015, and they share a son, Blackstock’s half-brother Shelby, 35; Narvel, Reba, Kelly and Brandon pictured in 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Blackstock (top left) looked frail when he was last pictured in March of this year at the Houston Rodeo in a group photo featuring McEntire and his daughter Savannah (bottom left) — from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth — who held his grandson Lake on her lap
‘I have a lot of friends in the business,’ the singer–songwriter continued, adding that she doesn’t often ‘get to really visit them.’
‘People always say, “Who are your best friends?” I always say, “Well, my best friends are my family, my sisters,”‘ she explained. ‘I don’t have time to get out and socialize.’
Blackstock looked frail when he was last pictured in March of this year at the Houston Rodeo in a group photo featuring McEntire and his daughter Savannah — from his previous marriage to Melissa Ashworth — who held his grandson Lake on her lap.
In March, Parton suffered a tragedy closer to home when her longtime husband Carl Dean died on March 3 after nearly 60 years of marriage.
In her heartbreaking tribute, the singer reflected on the ‘many wonderful years’ the pair spent together as she expressed her deep love for Dean and thanked fans for their prayers.
‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,’ Parton wrote.
The couple had been married since 1966.
In 2024, Parton gave a rare glimpse into her marriage and revealed why her ‘homebody’ husband refused to attend public events with her.
In March, Parton suffered a tragedy closer to home when her longtime husband, the famously reclusive Carl Dean, died on March 3 at age 82, after nearly 60 years of marriage
‘Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can’t do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy,’ Parton wrote. They had been married since 1966, but Dean was a ‘homebody’ and avoided public appearances with her
Speaking on an episode of Bunnie Xo’s Dumb Blonde Podcast, the star revealed that while her husband ‘loves’ music, he wass ‘not the least bit interested in being in it.’
While looking back an an important early event in their marriage, Parton revealed that she had convinced her husband to join her at an awards show in 1967, where she won BMI Song of the Year.
Despite her triumph, Dean was miserable at the event, and she recalled him telling her afterward: ‘I wish you the best, but don’t ever ask me to go to another one of these damn things because I ain’t going.’
True to his word, Dean never joined her at another awards show and stayed out of the spotlight, though that didn’t seem to have diminished her love for him in the least.
