Just days before his passing, Brandon Blackstock’s daughter posts a photo with him, igniting discussion about the timing

Just weeks before his d**th, Brandon Blackstock shared a quiet family moment with his eldest daughter, Savannah — one that now carries an even deeper meaning. On July 20, Savannah, 23, posted a photo on Facebook of herself standing beside her father, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as they posed in front of a backdrop of trees and mountain greenery. “Back home to the mountains & my daddy,” she wrote.

The post also included sweet snapshots of her 3-year-old daughter, Lake, whom she shares with husband Quentin Lee. Savannah is one of two children Blackstock shared with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth. He was also father to Seth from that marriage, and to River, 11, and Remington, 9, from his later marriage to Kelly Clarkson.

Just two weeks before that mountain photo, Savannah revealed another piece of joyful news: she was expecting a baby girl in January. “We’ve been keeping a couple sweet surprises,” she wrote on Instagram on July 5, also introducing Julianna — a young girl who had already become “one of the greatest blessings to our family.” On August 7, Blackstock’s family confirmed the heartbreaking news that the former music manager had died after a more than three-year battle with cancer.

“Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” the statement read. “We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy during this very difficult time.”

A day before his passing, Clarkson — who had largely kept his illness private — announced she was postponing her Las Vegas residency for the rest of August to be fully present for their children. “At this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she wrote to fans, thanking them for understanding.

Clarkson and Blackstock married in 2013 and divorced in 2020, with the split finalized two years later. He was diagnosed with cancer after their separation. A source close to Clarkson told PEOPLE the singer is “heartbroken” for her children but focused on being their anchor. “Her kids are her entire world, and she’s staying strong for their sake,” the source said.