The country crooner played a role in getting Blackstock and Clarkson to the altar.
In the wake of the shocking death of Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, some people are looking back at the dynamic that existed between Blackstock, Clarkson, and Blake Shelton during happier days.
Blackstock was Shelton’s manager for years, although the singer parted ways with Blackstock after his divorce from Clarkson. Shelton has been close with Clarkson for years, and that continued beyond her split from Blackstock.
In 2012, Blake admitted he played a role in nudging the two towards their wedding date.
“I told Brandon, ‘Man, you need to grow up and you figure out what you need to marry this girl,” Shelton explained. According to Us Weekly, Shelton shared his thoughts with Hollyscoop at the time.
He continued, “I am going on the record saying, I will do the music at the wedding or whatever you want to do, I’ll be that guy … I will play for four hours if I have to, ’cause you need to get your head out of your a__ and ask that girl to marry you.”
Shelton’s words seemed to be the nudge Blackstock needed at the time, as an engagement and wedding plans followed not long after that.
Shelton followed through with his promise and initially planned to officiate Blackstock and Clarkson’s wedding. “He’s not only singing, he’s marrying us,” Clarkson said of the original wedding plans.
However, those plans shifted ahead of the big day.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno in November 2013, Shelton explained why he didn’t officiate the wedding. He admitted he was technically ordained to officiate weddings, albeit in not the most orthodox way.
Unfortunately, Shelton revealed, Clarkson and Blackstock’s wedding date leaked ahead of the big day. As a result, Shelton explained, the couple decided to elope.
“I got to do the really great thing, which is avoid having to go through a wedding,” Shelton admitted. He quipped, “I would rather go to the dentist.”
According to an insider for Us Weekly in August 2021, Shelton picked his friendship with Clarkson over his professional relationship with Blackstock when push came to shove.
“Blake and Kelly are extremely close,” the media outlet’s source noted. “Their friendship and bond goes beyond the business,” they added.
Shelton may have been partially responsible for Clarkson and Blackstock getting married, but he’s had her back ever since the marriage imploded.
