Reba McEntire Split More Complex Than Country Songs: Husband Manages Kelly Clarkson, Reba’s Stepdaughter [Video]

Reba McEntire is separating from manager/husband Narvel Blackstock. Married for 26 years, Reba and Narvel revealed that they had already been apart for several months, but McEntire emphasized that she will continue her 35-year-long association with Blackstock as her manager, reported MSN.

As to whether they ultimately will file for divorce, neither Reba nor Narvel would comment.

McEntire just released her Love Somebody album, following successes in theater, film, and television as well as country music, where she repeatedly rocks the top of the charts. Her manager and still-current husband, Blackstock, owns a company that, in addition to Reba, reps Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton.

Reba, 60, and Narvel, 58, asked for privacy. McEntire‘s representative emphasized that they have no animosity toward each other, reported People.

“Despite this being the end of their marriage, they continue to support each other,” stressed the representative’s release on the topic. “They have worked together for 35 years and will continue to do so. They have asked that you respect their privacy during this time.”

Prior to the release of her new album, Reba gave no hint of any separation, only revealing in March that she was in Nashville and he was in Los Angeles because of work commitments.

“[He] told me he loved me last night when we talked on the phone,” said McEntire. “He’s in Los Angeles on business and I’m taking care of business here in Nashville. I miss him when we’re apart. [We] never leave each other without a kiss and ‘I love you.’ ”

Race car driver Shelby Blackstock is Reba’s and Narvel’s only son.

However, just like a country music song come to life, McEntire’s relationship with Narvel’s other children, Shawna Rene, Chassidy Celeste, and Brandon Blackstock, is complicated because Brandon’s wife is Kelly Clarkson. Reba and Kelly have performed together, and Clarkson is managed by Blackstock.

As the Inquisitr reported, Kelly joined country music superstars Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert to take the stage during the American Country Countdown Awards. Among the highlights was Clarkson’s tribute to her stepmother-in-law, Reba.

When Kelly and Miranda stepped on the stage, the crowd really went wild at their mash-up of Reba’s greatest hits. Crowned the Nash Icon during the award ceremony, Reba teamed up with Lambert and Clarkson for the song “Fancy.”

All these strong women singing with her made Reba proud, as she beamed with her step-daughter, Kelly.

[Photo by Terry Wyatt / Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum]