Reba McEntire and Narvel Blackstock’s 2015 split was not only the end of a 26-year marriage — it was also the disillusionment of a business empire. The former couple got together in the mid 1980s while Blackstock was working as McEntire’s tour manager.

Narvel Blackstock, who is married to his third wife, Laura Stroud, is now mourning the loss of his eldest son, Brandon Blackstock, from his first marriage to Elisa Gayle Ritter.

Following their divorce, Narvel Blackstock married Laura Putty Stroud, who was once a close friend of Reba McEntire. The relationship reportedly began not long after his separation from Reba was finalized in October 2015.