Reba McEntire is remembering her late stepson, Brandon Blackstock.

“My relationship with my stepson, Brandon Blackstock, was precious,” the singer told People on Tuesday, following Blackstock’s death from cancer in August at the age of 48. “I absolutely loved that child.”

McEntire, 70, shared that she started dating Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, when Brandon was just 4 years old. They tied the knot in 1989 but eventually called it quits in 2015 .

“When Narvel and I got married, he was 13, 14,” McEntire remembered, adding that she was an active participant in Brandon’s upbringing.

“Along with his mom and dad, I helped raise him, along with [Narvel’s other kids] Shawna and Chassidy. They were my kids.”

McEntire and Narvel, 69, went on to have one child together, son Shelby,

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