Clarkson, the "American Idol" star who shared two children with Blackstock, had just announced she was stepping away from concerts to support her family.

Brandon Blackstock, whose marriage to and contentious split from Kelly Clarkson put him in the celebrity spotlight, has died of cancer at age 48.

Talent manager Brandon Blackstock, who died after a battle with cancer, was married to pop singer Kelly Clarkson for nearly seven years.