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 passed away at 48 years old after privately fighting a lengthy battle with melanoma. Sources confirmed to TMZ that the late talent manager had been diagnosed with the disease more than three years ago.

Brandon Blackstock, whose marriage to and contentious split from Kelly Clarkson put him in the celebrity spotlight, has died of cancer at age 48.