Kelly Clarkson has pulled out of a major Texas benefit concert just days after the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
The Band Together Texas concert, set for August 17 in Austin, was supposed to feature Clarkson alongside an all-star lineup to raise money for victims of July’s devastating floods. But event organizers confirmed she will no longer appear, citing “personal circumstances” and sending “love to Kelly and her family.” Her name has since been removed from the lineup on the event’s website.
The show, organized by Texas country powerhouses Parker McCollum and Miranda Lambert, will still feature a heavy-hitting roster including Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Cody Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall, and the Randy Rogers Band. Big names outside of music, like Matthew McConaughey, Dennis Quaid, and legendary Texas athletes, are also expected to appear.
Clarkson’s withdrawal comes just ten days after Blackstock’s passing on August 7 at the age of 48. His family confirmed he died following a three-year battle with melanoma, a form of skin cancer. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” the statement read. Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis said he died under hospice care at his home in Butte, Montana, and that the manner of death was natural causes.
Clarkson and Blackstock were married from 2013 until she filed for divorce in 2020, finalizing the split in 2022 after a lengthy and highly publicized process. The couple shared two children, daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. Blackstock also had two older children, Savannah and Seth, from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth.
While their divorce was often described as bitter, sources close to Clarkson say she was deeply shaken by his death, mainly because of the impact on their kids. “Kelly and Brandon had their ups and downs, but at the end of the day, he was the father of her children and she is absolutely heartbroken for them,” one insider told PEOPLE. “Her kids are her entire world, and she’s staying strong for their sake.”
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The decision to skip Band Together Texas follows another recent cancellation from Clarkson. Just one day before Blackstock’s death, she postponed the remainder of her August Las Vegas Studio Session shows, telling fans she needed to be “fully present” for her children while their father was ill. The shows have been rescheduled for 2026.
Band Together Texas was planned as a high-profile, star-packed event to benefit flood relief efforts and honor first responders. Alongside the music, organizers promised on-stage tributes and stories of survival from emergency personnel who worked the disaster zones. The loss of Clarkson from the lineup is a noticeable change, but the event still promises a powerhouse celebration of Texas resilience.
For now, Clarkson is staying out of the spotlight, spending time with her children and away from the demands of performing. Whether she returns to the stage later this year is unknown, but it is clear her priority is family in the wake of this loss.
The flood victims in Texas will still get their night of music and fundraising. But Clarkson’s absence is a reminder that, even for celebrities, life can change in an instant and some stages simply have to wait.
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