Reba McEntire has broken her silence. The country music legend paid tribute to her late former stepson, Brandon Blackstock, on Monday, Aug. 11, for the first time following his shocking death last week at 48.

McEntire was formerly married to Blackstock’s father, TV producer Narvel Blackstock, and remained close with Brandon even after the divorce.

Brandon Blackstock died at his home in Butte, Montana, on August 7 after a years-long battle with cancer. His cause of death was melanoma, according to the Silver Bow county coroner.