It's been a week since the sad news that Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock, passed away after a secret three-year battle with melanoma. Since his death, more details have come to light about his life.
© Rachel MurrayHis obituary was released this week, and it turns out the 48-year-old was in a happy relationship before he passed. The talent manager was remembered with a special shoutout to Brittney Marie Jones, described as his “beautiful and loving partner in life and business.”
Together, they were building a life and companies, including Headwaters Livestock Auction and the Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana. Jones' father shared a Facebook tribute to Blackstock after his death, calling him a "good man" and his daughter's "soulmate," per Page Six.
What's interesting is that it seems Jones was once connected to Clarkson. According to Page Six, Jones’ LinkedIn shows she was her assistant from 2016 to 2020. The outlet points out that 2020 is the same year Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock.
Brandon and Clarkson were married from 2013 to 2020 and share two kids: River, 11, and Remington, 9. Their divorce was finalized in 2022, which continued to make big headlines when they entered a public battle over spousal support, custody agreements, and the Montana Ranch that the couple shared during their marriage.
© GettyBeyond his public life, the obituary paints Brandon as a devoted father and grandfather. “Never did his star shine brighter than in his role as a father,” it reads. He also shared Savannah and Seth with his ex-wife Melissa Ashworth.
Following his passing, she shared a statement saying, "On May 29, 1999, I married the man who would become the father of my children." “Brandon was full of charm, wit [sic], and just an absolute gentleman who happened to wear cowboy boots, wrangler jeans, and a cowboy hat," she continued.
The obituary also acknowledges his family ties, naming Reba McEntire as his former stepmom, and invites loved ones to celebrate his life on August 17. It beautifully sums him up as “the son, brother, father, friend, and love you prayed to have in your life,” a dreamer whose passion changed lives from Nashville to Montana. “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal.”
© Michael BucknerClarkson has not released a public statement about his passing, but reports say her leave of absence earlier this year was related to his passing, as she was helping care for him during his battle. A video from 12 days before his death also showed the 43-year-old singer breaking down in tears multiple times during her performance of Piece by Piece" during her Las Vegas residency, which is believed to be about her initial anger surrounding the divorce.
"Compartmentalization," she said to herself as she tried to keep cool, explaining that she changed the lyrics to represent who she is today. "I've never rewritten a song more, and I probably never will," she said. "I wrote this song with a lot of hope and projection for happiness and better than what was happening. And then, well, life set in, and I had to change the lyrics."
