- Reba McEntire became visibly emotional on NBC’s “The Voice” while remembering her late stepson, Brandon Blackstock.
- The emotional moment was triggered by a contestant’s performance of a song about a couple’s battle with cancer.
- McEntire tearfully shared, “I lost my oldest son because he did not win with cancer,” referring to Blackstock, who passed away in August.
- Brandon Blackstock, 48, died from melanoma, a form of skin cancer, after a three-year battle.
An Emotional Night on ‘The Voice’
Country superstar and coach Reba McEntire shared a moment of raw grief during the Oct. 27 Knockouts episode of “The Voice.” The powerful exchange occurred after Team Reba artist Aubrey Nicole delivered a moving rendition of Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It,” a song that chronicles a couple’s journey through a cancer diagnosis.
Nicole dedicated the performance to her father, who is now in remission. The song’s poignant lyrics clearly struck a deep chord with McEntire, who was seen tearing up. As fellow coach Snoop Dogg passed her a tissue, McEntire opened up about her recent family tragedy.
“I do know this song,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “Martina’s a good friend of mine. I lost my oldest son because he did not win with cancer.”
She continued, addressing the contestant, “That was a real reminder that life goes on, and we sing songs about it so we can remember the ones around us that we love so much, that we lean on at times like this. You did a great job.”
A Heartbreaking Loss
McEntire was referring to her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, who passed away on August 7 at the age of 48. His death, caused by melanoma, came after a brave three-year fight with the disease. McEntire was married to Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, from 1989 to 2015 and played a significant role in raising him and his siblings.
Remembering Brandon
This is not the first time McEntire has spoken about her profound loss. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, she described her relationship with Brandon as “precious,” having known him since he was just four years old. She fondly remembered his playful and mischievous nature.
“He was so funny,” McEntire recalled. “He loved to scare people… Brandon is sorely missed, truly missed with his mischievousness and his love of life. He brought joy to everybody that met him, and we’ll never forget him.”
At the time of his passing, a family representative confirmed the sad news, stating, “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.”