Dolly Parton Offers Heartfelt Advice to Kelly Clarkson After Brandon Blackstock’s Death

Dolly Parton is sharing some words of wisdom for Kelly Clarkson as she mourns the loss of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

On Monday, August 11, the legendary country star, 79, sat down with Entertainment Tonight and gave some advice about grief to Clarkson, 43, and Reba McEntire — Blackstock’s ex-stepmother — following the former talent manager’s death on August 7.

“I think that you just have to be grateful for the years that you’ve had with someone,” remarked Parton, who lost her husband of nearly 60 years, Carl Dean, in March.

“Just try to remember the very best of all that and take their energy that they had given you then, and kind of just recycle that and let that become a part of you,” she continued.

“Honor their memory and know they’re in a better place than we are these days,” the “Jolene” hitmaker added.

While Parton said she hadn’t spoken to Clarkson yet, she noted she plans to “catch up with her,” and gushed, “I love Reba, and I love Kelly.”

The “Since U Been Gone” singer married Blackstock in 2013, but the pair — who share River Rose, 11, and Remington Alexander, 9 — split in 2020. As for the Reba actress, 70, she was married to Blackstock’s father from 1989 to 2015.

As Star previously reported, Blackstock fought a three-year battle with melanoma prior to his death. He was just 48 years old.