Brandon Blackstock 's death will resonate beyond Kelly Clarkson , her children and their once-shared families.

The 48-year-old played an integral role in the lives of several country superstars.

Brandon Blackstock died on Thursday (Aug. 7) after a 3-year cancer battle.

He was the father of Clarkson's two kids, River and Remington, as well as two children from a previous marriage.

His father is Narvel Blackstock, Reba McEntire 's ex-husband.

In fact, he was backstage working the very day he met Clarkson in 2006.

Brandon Blackstock's Country Music History

People recalled Clarkson detailing her first introduction to her future husband at the 2006 ACM Awards. She sang "What Hurts the Most" with Rascal Flatts that day. The country trio's manager at the time was Blackstock.

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