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As Kelly Clarkson<\/strong><\/a> has been navigating the unimaginable death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock<\/strong><\/a>, , her children have always \u201ccome first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been draining, exhausting, emotional [and] devastating,\u201d a source exclusively tells Us Weekly<\/i> of Blackstock\u2019s diagnosis and untimely passing.<\/p>\n News broke on Thursday, August 7, that Blackstock died at the age of 48<\/a>, after a private three-year battle with cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cA big part of it was making her schedule available for transporting the children to visit Brandon, and all of the emotions that came with this difficult time,\u201d the insider tells Us, <\/i>referring to her Kelly Clarkson Show<\/i>\u2019s recent hiatus.<\/i> \u201cKelly is a workhorse. Hard work is all she knows. She hates disappointing people, truly. The thing that kept her going was knowing how many people depend on her, like her crews and employees.\u201d<\/p>\n Brandon Blackstock Secretly Battled Cancer for 3 Years Before Death<\/a><\/p>\n According to the source, Clarkson \u2014 who has also postponed her August concerts<\/a> in Las Vegas \u2014 will likely return to her show at some point as the NBC hit is slated to come back the fall, as first reported by TMZ<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cHer kids will come first, and she will find a way,\u201d the source adds. \u201cShe loves her work, but nothing compares to a situation like this.\u201d<\/p>\n Clarkson and her children have since found solace in their loved ones amid Blackstock\u2019s death.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has family and friends, but at the end of the day, it’s all on her,\u201d the insider explains. \u201cThankfully, the Blackstocks have come really close together in this time, so they would be happy to be there for the kids.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Only a Few People\u2019 in Kelly Clarkson\u2019s Circle Knew About Brandon Blackstock\u2019s Cancer: Source\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Blackstock is survived by his parents, his three siblings, his four children and his grandchildren. The former music manager shared Savannah and Seth with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth<\/strong>, as well as River Rose, 11, and Remington, 9, with Clarkson, 43. (Savannah is currently expecting her second baby<\/a> with her husband, Quentin Lee<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n \u201cIt is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away,\u201d a family spokesperson told Us<\/i> in a statement on Thursday. \u201cBrandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family.\u201d<\/p>\n The statement continued, \u201cWe thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family\u2019s privacy during this very difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n