Clarkson, the "American Idol" star who shared two children with Blackstock, had just announced she was stepping away from concerts to support her family.

Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson's former husband of seven years and father to kids River Rose and Remy Alexander, died "surrounded by family."

Kelly Clarkson kept her children front of mind while navigating her late ex-husband Brandon Blackstock's secret cancer battle, a source exclusively tells Us Weekly. "Even though they went through an acrimonious divorce,