Shelby Blackstock marked the first anniversary of his brother Brandon’s death on August 7 with a deeply personal tribute shared on Instagram.
Brandon Blackstock, the son of talent manager Narvel Blackstock and his first wife, Elisa (Ritter) Gilbert, died on August 7, 2025, at age 48 after a private, multi-year battle with cancer. A talent manager himself, Brandon had represented artists including Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, and Kelly Clarkson, to whom he was married from 2013 to 2020. Shelby, born in 1990, is the son of Narvel and Reba McEntire, who were married from 1989 until their 2015 split — making Brandon his older half-brother.
Shelby’s anniversary post featured a collection of photographs spanning the brothers’ lives, including childhood photos of the two together. In the caption, he wrote candidly about the ongoing weight of grief: “It’s been one year since we lost you… a void that can never be filled. It still doesn’t feel real. Sometimes it feels like we’re all just busy and overdue for a catch-up call. Then reality hits all over again. It’s a painful reminder every single day.”
A Brother’s Lasting Influence
Shelby, who is expecting his first child — a son named Archer — with his wife Marissa, wrote that he wishes Brandon could be here to meet him, adding, “But in a way, I like to think you already have.” He credited Brandon with instilling in him a deep sense of confidence and the belief that he could accomplish anything, calling it “one of the greatest gifts anyone has ever given me.” He vowed to carry those lessons forward and pass them on to Archer, closing the post with a simple but resonant line: “We miss you. We love you. Every single day.”
A Promise Made at the Time of His Death
When Brandon died in 2025, Shelby described the family’s loss as “tremendous,” remembering his brother as “an irreplaceable part of our family — funny, bright, and full of life.” Even then, he made a commitment that clearly still holds: “We will always miss you, Brandon, and we will never stop loving, remembering and celebrating you.”
With a child on the way, Shelby’s tribute underscores how Brandon’s memory will continue shaping the next generation of the Blackstock family.
