The entertainment world is still buzzing after the unexpected revelation that Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, had quietly been building a new life with Clarkson’s former assistant before losing his battle with cancer last week at just 48 years old.
Blackstock’s obituary painted a picture of a man who had moved on from the bitter divorce with Clarkson, focusing instead on his career, his children, and a new relationship with Brittney Marie Jones — the very woman who once worked closely for Clarkson herself.
“Brandon, along with his beautiful and loving partner in life and business, Brittney Marie Jones, started building a life, building companies, and working tirelessly to create Headwaters Livestock Auction and what will live on as his legacy, The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana,” the obituary read.
The lengthy tribute notably left Clarkson’s name out entirely, mentioning only the two children they shared — daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. It also honored Blackstock as “a devoted father” whose “four children were and will always be his greatest love and his greatest legacy.”
Blackstock also shared daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth, 18, with his first wife, Melissa Ashworth — who, like Clarkson, did not get a mention in the obituary.
Jones, who once served as Clarkson’s assistant in Los Angeles before transitioning to work for Blackstock, was described as his partner in both life and business. She reportedly began working at his Montana cattle operation after Clarkson and Blackstock’s high-profile split.
Blackstock’s personal life had been under a microscope ever since Clarkson filed for divorce in 2020, ending their seven-year marriage. The split spiraled into a drawn-out legal battle over custody, property, and finances. At one point, Blackstock refused to vacate Clarkson’s Montana ranch until a court ordered him to leave in 2022. He later purchased his own \$1.8 million property in Butte, Montana, where he lived until his death.
Valley View Rodeo, one of Blackstock’s proudest accomplishments, became his post-Hollywood passion project — a far cry from the glitz of managing a superstar singer. It was here, in the rugged Montana landscape, that he and Jones worked side by side, far removed from the drama of his marriage’s collapse.
Blackstock passed away on August 7 after a three-year battle with melanoma. According to Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis, he died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. His family released a heartfelt statement thanking the public for prayers and asking for privacy.
Tributes poured in, including from his eldest son Seth, who called him his “best friend” and “hero,” and his half-brother Shelby, who remembered him as “funny, bright, and full of life.”
Sources say Clarkson is “devastated” for her children. While their marriage ended on a sour note, insiders claim she remained protective of Blackstock in front of the kids, especially as his health declined earlier this year.
In the end, Brandon Blackstock’s final years tell the story of a man who traded the spotlight for simpler living — and made it clear in his farewell that his focus was on family, faith, and a fresh chapter far away from Hollywood’s glare.
