Who was Brandon Blackstock married to before Kelly Clarkson? What we know about his first wife

Before marrying Kelly Clarkson, Brandon Blackstock was married to Melissa Ashworth for nearly 11 years, from 2001 to 2012. Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013 and divorced nearly nine years later, in 2022. They share two children, 11-year-old daughter River Rose and 9-year-old son Remington Alexander.

Blackstock passed away on August 7 at the age of 48. The news was announced by his spokesperson, who said in a statement:

"It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away."

Sharing the cause of his death, the statement added:

"Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time."

The news came shortly after Kelly Clarkson announced she was postponing her August studio session in Las Vegas to prioritize Brandon Blackstock’s health.

Who is Brandon Blackstock's ex-wife, Melissa Ashworth?

Melissa Ashworth is the mother of two of Brandon Blackstock’s children, Savannah and Seth. She is also a grandmother to Lake Easton Lee, born in 2022 to her daughter, Savannah, who is now expecting her second child. According to Parade, Ashworth is currently 51 years old, suggesting she was about 27 when she married Blackstock in 2001.

Though much detail about her personal life is not public, Ashworth is known to have maintained friendly ties with both Blackstock and Clarkson over the years.

Speaking to RadarOnline after Clarkson's marriage, Ashworth said:

"We have a wonderful relationship. I love Kelly and we get along great, and my husband and I hang out with them all the time."

Speaking of them as a couple, she said:

"I adore Kelly and Brandon as a couple."

In another interview, Ashworth said she had only positive things to say about Kelly and Brandon Blackstock as a couple.

Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020. Talking about the divorce and protecting her kids, she told Entertainment Tonight:

"There's a lot of hearts involved here. I am an open book, but at some point I'm a mama bear more than I am a person in the public eye. So, I care 100 percent more about my children than I do anything else on this planet."

In an interview with People in 2024, while talking about their divorce, Clarkson said,

"I cannot express how appreciative I feel for having that kind of healthy outlet. Because the level of depression and things that come with divorce or grieving is extraordinarily hard. You feel alone, and it’s just a blessing to be able to have that outlet for those emotions that are overwhelming"

As of now, Kelly Clarkson has not commented publicly on her late ex-husband’s death.

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