The fate of these 20 hits could've been much different had they gone to the artists they were originally offered to.
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Kelly Clarkson will return to host "The Kelly Clarkson Show" in September despite the sudden death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. The singer, 43, canceled her August Las Vegas residency after Blackstock died on Aug. 7 following a three-year battle with melanoma. The pair share two children, River, 11, and Remington, 9. A show insider told The US Sun the daytime program will proceed as planned. "She is first and foremost present for her kids and processing the tragedy herself in many different layers, but she has been in some meetings already," the source said. "She needs a sense of normalcy and routine, and quite frankly needs the distraction." The insider said helping her children adjust is Clarkson's "top priority," adding, "There's no rule book for it. She is trying her best but she's struggling helping them cope to life without their dad." Private Illness, Public Loss Blackstock's illness was known to only a few on the show's staff. "A select few knew he was sick, the rest suspected," the insider told the outlet. "No one knew it was going to be so bad so quickly. It was a shock to everyone and I think Kelly herself." Starstruck Entertainment, the company where Blackstock worked for years as a music manager, announced his death in a statement on Aug. 7. "Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years," the statement read. "He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family." The Silver Bow County coroner confirmed to PEOPLE that Blackstock died of melanoma at his home in Butte, Montana, and that the manner of death was natural causes. Life After Divorce Clarkson and Blackstock tied the knot in 2013 and split up in 2020. Their divorce got its seal in 2022, following a long fight over kids and money. Clarkson got the main right to keep the kids, while Blackstock moved to a ranch in Montana. Despite the personal loss, Clarkson plans to honor her professional commitments. "The show is coming back as scheduled next month, no changes are being made as of right now," the insider told the outlet. Clarkson addressed fans on Instagram the day before Blackstock's death was announced, saying she needed to be "fully present" for her children. "While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year my children's father has been ill," she wrote.
Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason if he would have a chance to actually set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future given his free-agent status created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have quite an interesting quarterback room for the 2025 season. Of course, all the focus is truly on Aaron Rodgers and what he can bring to the team at this stage in his career. Behind him, the Steelers have Mason Rudolph serving as the primary backup. Skylar Thompson and Will Howard are competing for the third spot on the depth chart, but unfortunately for Howard, an injury has slowed his progress. Thompson took advantage of the opportunity, performing well in the first preseason game and possibly reclaiming the QB3 role. Before his injury, Howard had previously moved ahead of Thompson in the competition. Former teammate of Rudolph, Ben Roethlisberger, recently shared his honest thoughts about the veteran quarterback’s performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Roethlisberger, who spent years with Rudolph during his time in Pittsburgh, had a unique perspective on how his former understudy handled the game. While Roethlisberger acknowledged there were some areas where Rudolph could improve, he also praised his composure, decision-making, and ability to move the offense when needed. Roethlisberger discussed Rudolph’s performance on his Footbahlin podcast, noting that the veteran looked confident and in control despite limited opportunities. "You know I thought Mason [Rudolph] played really well," Roethlisberger said on his podcast. "I thought he did exactly what you would hope to see from your backup quarterback. He went out there I think, he solidified himself… as the two." He pointed out that Rudolph’s familiarity with the Steelers’ system allows him to step in without disrupting the flow of the offense. With Rodgers leading the way, Rudolph providing a steady backup presence, and the QB3 competition between Thompson and Howard continuing, the Steelers’ quarterback depth will be a storyline worth following as the 2025 season approaches. "Let’s see how he does this week and the next week," Roethlisberger said. "I thought he played really well. I thought he was efficient with the ball. He threw the ball down the field. As a team, you like seeing that because that gives you confidence going into the season that if something were to happen one game for Aaron… you have a guy that you feel confident who could go in there. Same thing when we had Charlie Batch, you had Bruce Gradkowski, you had Byron Leftwich, you had Dennis Dixon and Josh Dobbs. Any of those guys. You just feel confident he can go in and just get it done for you." Roethlisberger had high praise for Rudolph, and hearing him mention him alongside names like Charlie Batch shows he has faith in Rudolph’s ability to be a reliable backup in Pittsburgh. There is a strong argument that Rudolph is one of the most dependable backup quarterbacks in the NFL, which is a significant asset for the Steelers in the 2025 season. Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Great Preseason Game Versus Jaguars Rudolph only attempted 10 passes on Saturday night against the Jaguars, but completed 90 percent of them. He threw for 84 yards and one touchdown. While preseason football can be difficult to evaluate, he performed well in roughly a quarter and some change of action. His efficiency and composure reinforced the notion that the Steelers have one of the league’s most steady and trustworthy backup quarterbacks heading into the regular season. Roethlisberger is confident Rudolph has now locked up his spot as QB2 for the 2025 season. Steelers fans are now super eager to get updates on when Howard will be back from his injury. Howard and Thompson will fight for the QB3 spot. What grade would you give Rudolph for his preseason outing against the Jaguars?
With the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres locked in a battle for the top of the National League West, one MLB insider believes the Padres have a distinct edge that will propel them to the division title. In a "Foul Territory" interview on Tuesday, MLB insider Jim Bowden of The Athletic predicted the San Diego's bullpen could be the difference between the Padres winning the NL West and potentially making the postseason as a wild-card team. San Diego made a big move at the MLB trade deadline to strengthen its bullpen, getting Mason Miller from the Athletics. In his first five games with the Padres, the 26-year-old right-hander has struck out 12 of the 20 batters he has faced, averaging a preposterous 20.3 strikeouts per nine innings. Three of those appearances have also resulted in holds as Miller has entered the game in the seventh or eighth inning ahead of closer Robert Suarez. Suarez leads all relievers with 33 saves this season and has been especially dominant since the All-Star break, posting a 1.86 ERA over 9.2 innings. That has continued what has been an incredibly strong season overall for the Padres bullpen. Entering Tuesday's play, the Padres' 3.02 cumulative ERA from their relievers is the best of any MLB team. Now, however, comes one of the biggest tests of Bowden's theory that San Diego's bullpen can be a difference-maker in the division. With the Dodgers holding a 1.0-game lead over the Padres in the division heading into Tuesday's play, many are already looking ahead to the next two weekends as games that will decide which team could earn not only the NL West title but also a potential first-round postseason bye. On Friday, the Padres visit Chavez Ravine for three games. On the following Friday (Aug. 22), the Dodgers invade Petco Park for a three-game set. Those six games are the last regular-season matchups between the two division titans and represent a chance for the Padres to avenge earlier losses to the Dodgers, who hold a 5-2 edge over San Diego in their previous encounters this season.