Brandon Blackstock quietly hung out with his former stepmother, Reba McEntire, less than five months before his death. Brandon and his half-brother, Shelby Blackstock, reunited with McEntire, 70, and her boyfriend,

Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's ex, died at 48 after a cancer battle, his family announced Aug. 7. Look back at his bond with stepmom Reba McEntire, who said she loved him like he was "blood."

Narvel Blackstock, who is married to his third wife, Laura Stroud, is now mourning the loss of his eldest son, Brandon Blackstock, from his first marriage to Elisa Gayle Ritter.