Reba McEntire Broke Down In Tears Over Brandon Blackstock’s Death After Emotional Performance On The Voice

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Be warned: this story contains spoilers from the October 27th episode of The Voice. You can watch the episode with a Peacock subscription.

The latest episode of The Voice Season 28, which aired in 2025, was filled with emotion. The Battle rounds concluded in the first hour, and the Knockouts began in the second. While the show was generally upbeat, a particularly moving performance caused Reba McEntire to tear up, as it reminded her of her stepson, Brandon Blackstock, who recently passed away from cancer.

Aubrey Nicole, a member of Team Reba, dedicated her performance of Martina McBride’s “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” to her father, who is a cancer survivor. The song deeply moved the coaches of The Voice, especially Reba McEntire, who became emotional and struggled to find words when it was her turn to offer feedback to the 19-year-old singer.

Okay, so this was a really sweet moment. Snoop Dogg, who admitted he didn’t actually know the song but totally got why it was emotional – he’s lost people to cancer himself – actually went and got Reba McEntire a box of tissues. Then, Reba turned to Aubrey Nicole and said…

Yes, I recognize this song. Martina is a close friend of mine. I lost my eldest son to cancer, which was a painful reminder that life continues even through loss. We sing songs like this to cherish the loved ones who support us during difficult times.

Brandon Blackstock was Reba McEntire’s stepson through her marriage to his father, Narvel Blackstock, when Brandon was growing up. While she didn’t say Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband’s name directly, she did call Brandon her “oldest son” when she publicly honored him after his passing.

I was so saddened to hear about Brandon Blackstock’s passing after a private fight with cancer. He was only 48. It’s been tough for Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson, and I heard they both had to miss a few days of filming The Voice because of it. But honestly, you wouldn’t even know it watching Season 28 – they’ve both been handling everything so professionally while also juggling Season 29!

As a big fan of The Voice, I heard Carson Daly mention that everyone involved with the show knew Brandon Blackstock, and both he and Kelly Clarkson had the complete backing of the network while going through a really tough period. It’s good to know they were supported.

Given the powerful emotions Aubrey Nicole expressed in her song, it wasn’t surprising when she won her Knockout round and moved on to the Season 28 Playoffs. You can watch her performance here:

After the performance, all the coaches were visibly emotional, and Reba McEntire noted the change in atmosphere, stating:

I know it’s meant to be an enjoyable show, but that’s just the power of country music. It really connects with your feelings and tells compelling stories – it’s captivating!

It’s sadly common for people to have a loved one fight cancer. While it was incredibly sad to see Reba McEntire grieving the loss of her son, it was heartwarming to witness how her music connected so many people in support.

Don’t miss the next round of Knockouts on The Voice, airing Monday, November 3rd at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC. Episodes will be available to stream on Peacock the following day.

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2025-10-28 05:38