Kelly Clarkson Stunned by Revelation in Late Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock’s Final Days — and the Secret Partner Tied to Her Own Inner Circle

The entertainment world was still reeling from the news of Brandon Blackstock’s passing when a revelation buried in his obituary stunned even his most loyal friends and fans.

Blackstock, the former music manager and ex-husband of Grammy-winning superstar Kelly Clarkson, died at the age of 48 after a long, private battle with melanoma. But it wasn’t only his untimely death that made headlines — it was the unexpected disclosure of a relationship that linked him to someone from deep within Clarkson’s own camp.

The Name That Changed Everything

Released earlier this week, Blackstock’s obituary celebrated his return to the rural lifestyle he’d always loved — a life far removed from the high-stakes music industry that had once defined him.

It also confirmed what few knew until now: in his final years, Blackstock had been in a committed relationship with Brittney Marie Jones, described as his “beautiful and loving partner in life and business.” Together, they built Headwaters Livestock Auction and The Valley View Rodeo in Montana — ventures that reflected his post-Hollywood identity.

But there was one more detail that transformed this quiet revelation into a headline-making shocker.

Brittney Marie Jones was no stranger to Kelly Clarkson. In fact, she had once been Clarkson’s personal assistant.

From Assistant to Partner

A December 2024 feature on Blackstock’s rodeo business had already mentioned Jones, but the connection had not drawn widespread attention. That changed when her LinkedIn profile resurfaced.

In her own words, Jones described herself as someone who “successfully assistant managed day to day for artist, Kelly Clarkson, under manager, Brandon Blackstock, in Los Angeles for music and television.” She went on to note her transition into an “Executive Assistant” role for Blackstock’s Montana cattle operation, eventually becoming an integral figure in both his business and his personal life.

For fans of Clarkson, this revelation was a jarring reminder of just how entwined the personal and professional lives of high-profile couples — and their circles — can become.

A Marriage That Ended, but a Family That Remained

Clarkson and Blackstock’s marriage, which began in 2013, ended after seven years. Their divorce was finalized in 2022, following highly publicized proceedings. Through it all, they remained co-parents to their two children: River and Remy.

While their romantic relationship unraveled, one priority never shifted — making sure their children maintained a strong bond with their father. Clarkson, who has long been open about her own strained relationship with her dad, was determined not to let history repeat itself.

According to a source close to the singer, “Kelly’s biggest fear during the divorce was that her kids would grow up feeling distant from their father. She always wanted to spare them that.”

A Private Battle Comes to Light

What the public didn’t know until recently was that Blackstock had been fighting melanoma for an extended period. Clarkson’s work schedule in the past year quietly reflected the shift — including breaks from The Kelly Clarkson Show to spend time with her children and, reportedly, to be by Blackstock’s side.

Just one day before his passing, Clarkson announced she was postponing the rest of her August Las Vegas residency dates to “be fully present” for her kids while their father was “ill.”

“While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children’s father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them,” she wrote in a public statement.

Why This Loss Hits Different

For Clarkson, the grief is layered. There is the obvious heartbreak of watching her children lose their father. But there’s also the deeper ache of seeing them face the same kind of absence she endured when her own father left during her childhood.

“She’s devastated for them,” the insider shared. “She will grieve that particular loss forever.”

Despite the public and sometimes bitter nature of her split from Blackstock, those close to Clarkson say she always respected his role as a father. “He was always a very good dad who adored his kids,” the source explained.

The Lesson She Carried Forward

Observers have noted that Clarkson seemed to take cues from Blackstock’s approach to co-parenting, particularly his relationship with his two older children from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth.

“He never badmouthed his first wife around his kids, and he never let that divorce get in the way of their bond,” one insider said. “Kelly knew she would do the same thing. That was the example she wanted to follow.”

A Life Rebuilt in Montana

The obituary offered a glimpse into Blackstock’s post-music industry world — a man who traded tour buses and recording studios for ranch land and rodeo arenas. In Bozeman, Montana, with Jones by his side, he carved out a new identity: entrepreneur, cattleman, and community builder.

For those who knew him only as Clarkson’s husband and manager, it was a striking transformation. The rodeo and livestock ventures are now part of his legacy, sustained by the partner who helped him build them.

The Public’s Reaction

The revelation that his final partner had once worked for Clarkson was met with mixed emotions online and in fan communities. Some expressed surprise at the closeness of the connection; others viewed it as an example of how professional relationships can evolve in unexpected ways.

Still, the larger conversation remained centered on the tragedy of a father’s life cut short, and the children who will grow up without him.

What Happens Next for Clarkson

Clarkson’s professional calendar remains full, with the seventh season of The Kelly Clarkson Show set to premiere next month. Her postponed Las Vegas residency dates have already been rescheduled for summer of next year, though her return to The Voice is still uncertain.

Whether or not she addresses the personal revelations surrounding Blackstock’s final years remains to be seen. For now, her focus appears firmly on her children.

A Private Goodbye to a Public Chapter

Even after their marriage ended, Blackstock’s influence on Clarkson’s life — both personal and professional — was undeniable. He was her manager, her partner, the father of her children, and, for a time, part of her creative engine.

Now, with his passing, Clarkson closes not just a chapter of co-parenting, but a chapter of shared history that began over a decade ago.

In Montana, the businesses he built with Jones will continue. In Los Angeles, Clarkson will keep raising their children, carrying forward the lessons learned from both the highs and the lows of their time together.

Bottom Line:
Brandon Blackstock’s final years reveal a man who reinvented himself far from the limelight, building a new life with a partner who once worked closely with his ex-wife. For Kelly Clarkson, the loss is personal, profound, and deeply tied to her children’s future. It’s a story of love, legacy, and the complicated ways our lives remain connected long after the relationship changes.