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By India McCarty
Jennifer Hudson recently lent a helping hand to fellow AMERICAN IDOL alum Kelly Clarkson.
“According to sources, Clarkson missed one VOICE shoot following the death earlier this month of her former husband and father of her children, Brandon Blackstock,” Deadline reported. “It was a rehearsal for the battle rounds, with Jennifer Hudson filling in for her.”
Hudson is only filling in for this one episode, with Clarkson returning to the singing competition show for the rest of Season 29.
Blackstock passed away earlier this month after a battle with melanoma. He was 48 years old.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,” a representative for the family told PEOPLE. “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.”
Related: Kelly Clarkson Encourages Young Fan with Cancer: ‘You’re…Not Alone’
Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband and a former talent manager, has died at the age of 48.
Clarkson recently postponed her Las Vegas residency, noting Blackstock had been ill for the past year. A representative for his family issued a statement: “Brandon bravely… pic.twitter.com/zFDfRbFsQ8
— Variety (@Variety) August 7, 2025
The former couple wed in 2013 and share two children, daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. Blackstock and Clarkson split in 2020.
Clarkson had previously shared a message with fans announcing the cancellation of a series of shows.
“Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,” she wrote. “While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them. I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding.”
A source told Us Weekly Blackstock had “been sick for a while,” but things got worse earlier this year, which was why Clarkson had been “MIA from her talk show.”
“Out of respect, Kelly chose not to say anything publicly until it became clear this week that Brandon wasn’t going to make it,” the source continued.
Blackstock’s death has hit THE VOICE crew especially hard; not only was he Clarkson’s ex-husband, he was also VOICE coach Reba McEntire’s stepson.
“It’s been tough,” Carson Daly, who hosts the show, told Us Weekly. “We all knew Brandon well, and we are a family.”
He continued, “I was working with [Reba] last week, everything was fresh, so we’ve just been sending our prayers and support to them. It’s a terrible situation.”
Please keep Clarkson and her children in your prayers as they continue to navigate this time of grief.
Read Next: These Three Former VOICE Judges Are ‘So Excited’ to Return for Season 29
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