Elisa Gayle Ritter is an American television and music producer. She is best known as the first wife of music manager Narvel Blackstock and the mother of talent manager Brandon Blackstock. She also became widely known as Kelly Clarkson’s former mother-in-law through Brandon’s marriage to the singer. Over the years, many people have confused Elisa with country music star Reba McEntire because both women were married to Narvel Blackstock, but they are different people.
Elisa Gayle Ritter’s Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Elisa Gayle Ritter (also known as Elisa Gayle Ritter-Gilbert) |
| Date of Birth | January 6, 1956 |
| Age | 69 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Tarrant County, Texas, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | TV producer, music producer |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Current Husband | Daniel Gilbert |
| Former Husband | Narvel Blackstock (1973–1988) |
| Children | Shawna Rene Blackstock, Brandon Blackstock, Chassidy Celeste Blackstock |
| Known For | Being Narvel Blackstock’s first wife, TV producer, and Brandon Blackstock’s mother |
Early Life
Elisa Gayle Ritter was born on January 6, 1956, in Tarrant County, Texas, United States.
She is an American citizen and is of White ethnicity.
Elisa has always kept her personal life private. Because of this, very little is publicly known about her childhood or upbringing.
Parents and Siblings
The names of Elisa Gayle Ritter’s parents have not been publicly confirmed.
It is also not known whether she has any brothers or sisters.
Education
There is no reliable public information about Elisa Gayle Ritter’s education.
The schools, college, or university she attended have not been disclosed.
Career
Elisa Gayle Ritter has worked in television and music production.
Several sources describe her as a television producer and music producer. She has also been linked to a company called Yankee, although little public information is available about her work there.
During her marriage to Narvel Blackstock, she reportedly worked alongside him in the music industry. Some reports say she helped with artist management and production work involving country music performers.
She has also been associated with artists including Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson, and Blake Shelton. However, the exact details of her professional role have not been widely documented.
Marriage to Narvel Blackstock
Elisa Gayle Ritter married Narvel Blackstock in March 1973.
Some reports say they were both teenagers when they married. Other sources give slightly different ages, but all agree they married at a young age.
Narvel was beginning his career in the music industry. He later became a successful music manager after first working as a steel guitar player.
The couple remained married for about 15 years.
Their marriage ended in March 1988. The reason for their divorce has never been publicly explained.
Who Is Narvel Blackstock?
Narvel Blackstock is an American music manager and television producer.
During his career, he managed several well-known country music artists, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, and Kelly Clarkson. He also co-owned Starstruck Entertainment.
After divorcing Elisa, Narvel married country music singer Reba McEntire in 1989. They had one son, Shelby Blackstock, before divorcing in 2015.
In 2024, Narvel married Laura Putty Stroud, a Nashville real estate agent.
Marriage to Daniel Gilbert
Less than two years after her divorce, Elisa married Daniel Gilbert in August 1989.
The couple has remained together for more than three decades.
Daniel frequently shares family photos and anniversary messages on Facebook. In one post, he described Elisa as a “Proverbs 31 woman” and praised her as a wife, mother, designer, manager, co-pastor, and cowgirl.
Children
Elisa Gayle Ritter and Narvel Blackstock have three children.
Shawna Rene Blackstock
Shawna Rene Blackstock is Elisa’s oldest child.
She was born in 1973 and has chosen to live a private life away from public attention.
According to available reports, Shawna is married to Jason Slade Meyers.
Brandon Blackstock
Brandon Blackstock was born on December 16, 1976, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Like his father, he built a career in artist management. He worked with Starstruck Entertainment and managed artists including Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, and Kelly Clarkson.
Brandon was also a rancher and founded Valley View Rodeo, a rodeo production company in Montana.
He was first married to Melissa Ashworth, and they had two children:
- Savannah Blackstock
- Seth Blackstock
Brandon later married singer Kelly Clarkson in 2013.
They had two children:
- River Rose Blackstock
- Remington “Remy” Alexander Blackstock
Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, and their divorce was finalized in 2022.
According to recent reports, Brandon Blackstock died from cancer on August 7, 2025, at the age of 48.
Chassidy Celeste Blackstock
Chassidy Celeste Blackstock was born on November 14, 1978.
Like her older sister, she has stayed out of the public spotlight.
Reports say she married Scott Standefer in 2000.
Grandchildren
Elisa Gayle Ritter has several grandchildren.
Through Brandon Blackstock, she is the grandmother of:
- Savannah Blackstock
- Seth Blackstock
- River Rose Blackstock
- Remington “Remy” Alexander Blackstock
According to family reports, Elisa also became a great-grandmother in 2022 when Savannah Blackstock welcomed her first child.
Relationship with Kelly Clarkson
Elisa Gayle Ritter became connected to singer Kelly Clarkson when Kelly married her son, Brandon Blackstock.
Kelly and Brandon married in October 2013 and had two children together before separating.
Although Brandon and Kelly later divorced, Elisa remains known as Kelly Clarkson’s former mother-in-law.
Relationship with Reba McEntire
Many people confuse Elisa Gayle Ritter with Reba McEntire because both women were married to Narvel Blackstock.
They are not the same person.
After Elisa and Narvel divorced, Narvel married Reba McEntire in 1989.
Reba has spoken warmly about Elisa’s children and once said she considers Brandon, Shawna, and Chassidy to be part of her own family rather than simply stepchildren.
The confusion between Elisa and Reba has continued for years because they have a similar appearance, and some online image searches have mistakenly shown Reba’s photos when searching for Elisa.
Net Worth
Elisa Gayle Ritter’s personal net worth has not been publicly confirmed.
Although she has worked in television and music production, no reliable estimate of her wealth is available.
Social Media
Elisa Gayle Ritter appears to have a Facebook account, where she occasionally shares family photos and personal updates.
She does not appear to have any publicly verified Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), or LinkedIn accounts.
Interesting Facts
- Born on January 6, 1956, in Tarrant County, Texas.
- She is an American television and music producer.
- She married Narvel Blackstock in 1973.
- Their marriage lasted about 15 years before ending in 1988.
- She married Daniel Gilbert in August 1989.
- She has three children: Shawna Rene, Brandon, and Chassidy Celeste Blackstock.
- She is the former mother-in-law of singer Kelly Clarkson.
- She is often mistaken for Reba McEntire, but they are different people.
- Her parents, siblings, education, and personal net worth have not been publicly disclosed.
- She prefers to keep her personal life private and rarely appears in the media.
