Dolly Parton offered a tender message of solace to the loved ones of Brandon Blackstock, a talent manager who died from skin cancer last week at the age of 48. Blackstock was the ex-husband of Kelly Clarkson and the former stepson of Reba McEntire.

Clarkson has yet to speak out about Blackstock’s death — but she’s said to be “devastated” for her kids River, 11, and Remington, 9, over the tragedy. “When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake,” an insider told People on Friday.