Reba McEntire Delivers an Emotional First GRAMMY Performance in Tribute to Her Late Son
By Website Content Manager
The country legend helmed the GRAMMYs’ In Memoriam segment, paying tribute to artists who passed away in the past year, including her son Brandon Blackstock.
Reba McEntire delivered one of the most moving moments of the 2026 GRAMMY Awards when she stepped onto the stage to lead the ceremony’s In Memoriam segment.
The country music legend’s performance carried deep personal meaning, as it honored members of the music community who passed away over the past year — including her late son, Brandon Blackstock, who died in August 2025 following a battle with cancer.
In the days leading up to the show, McEntire acknowledged how emotionally challenging the performance would be. She shared that many close friends would be remembered during the tribute and confirmed that Brandon would also be featured, noting that singing the song would be especially difficult given his passing just months earlier.
For the tribute, McEntire performed a reworked version of “Trailblazer,” titled “Trailblazer (Dream Chaser Version).” The updated arrangement was written and co-produced by GRAMMY winner Brandy Clark, who joined McEntire onstage alongside fellow GRAMMY-winning artist Lukas Nelson.
Speaking separately on the red carpet with E! News, McEntire revealed that Brandon would be honored during the performance, describing the moment as incredibly meaningful.
Despite a career that includes three GRAMMY wins from 18 nominations, McEntire said this appearance marked her first-ever performance on the GRAMMY stage — and she believes it will surpass all past accolades. The 70-year-old artist shared that the tribute would stand as her most cherished GRAMMY memory.
Brandon Blackstock passed away on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48, after a three-year fight with melanoma. McEntire became his stepmother in 1989 after marrying music manager Narvel Blackstock. Though the couple divorced in 2015, she remained close to Brandon and often spoke of him as her own child. He was previously married to Kelly Clarkson and built a respected career as a music manager, working with artists such as Blake Shelton.
McEntire arrived at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards alongside her fiancé, actor Rex Linn. The couple, who star together on Happy’s Place, walked the red carpet hand-in-hand, smiling for photographers as they arrived for the evening.
The ceremony featured a wide range of performances, including appearances by McEntire, Clark, and Nelson, as well as Addison Rae, Alex Warren, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Clipse, Duff McKagan, Justin Bieber, KATSEYE, Lady Gaga, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Olivia Dean, Pharrell Williams, Post Malone, Sabrina Carpenter, Slash, SOMBR, The Marías, and others.
Presenters throughout the night included Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Doechii, Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, KAROL G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor, with an additional surprise presenter revealed during the broadcast.
According to the Recording Academy, the GRAMMY Awards remain the only major music honors determined by peer voting, with winners selected by Academy members representing all corners of the industry — from performers and songwriters to producers, engineers, and mixers.