Brandon Blackstock’s romance with Kelly Clarkson’s former assistant, Brittney Marie Jones, was reportedly “the icing on the cake” for the singer after their marriage fell apart.
A source told the Daily Mail Thursday that Blackstock — who died last week at age 48 after a private three-year battle with melanoma — “chose to move on with someone Kelly knew and trusted,” which “only made things worse for her.”
The source added that while Blackstock was “a great father” to his four children — two with Clarkson and two from his first marriage — he was not “a great husband.”
The source emphasized that the Season 1 American Idol winner “doesn’t blame” Jones — who lived with Blackstock in Montana before his death — and wants to avoid any “drama from her fanbase.”
News of Blackstock’s relationship with Jones first surfaced in his online obituary, published Tuesday, which stated in part:
“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.”
In a bombshell twist, a December 2024 report on Blackstock and Jones’s rodeo business identified Jones as Kelly Clarkson’s “former assistant.”
According to the Daily Mail, a previous LinkedIn profile for Jones — cited in the report — revealed she had worked as Brandon Blackstock’s executive assistant and also served as Kelly Clarkson’s assistant during the time Blackstock managed the singer.
“I successfully assistant managed day to day for artist, Kelly Clarkson under manager, Brandon Blackstock in Los Angeles for music and television,” the profile stated according to The Sun.
“After a change in management for Ms. Clarkson, I transitioned to Executive Assistant for Mr. Blackstock’s cattle operation in Montana, where I currently run the office and handle administration work. “
“I also currently fulfill personal assistant duties for Mr. Blackstock.”
Jones’s LinkedIn also lists her as Executive Assistant at V Bar V Cattle Co. LLC — formerly known as Vintage Valley Ranch — one of Blackstock’s businesses, further linking her to his post-divorce life in Montana.
Jones worked for Clarkson and Blackstock until June 2020 — the same month Clarkson, 43, filed for divorce from her then-husband, who was also her talent manager. Their divorce was finalized in March 2022.
Clarkson never shared the exact reason for the split, officially citing irreconcilable differences, though a source told the Daily Mail there was a specific issue that marked a “point of no return.”
Despite their rocky breakup, Clarkson supported Blackstock as his health worsened, focusing on protecting their children, River, 11, and Remington, 9, and ensuring he could live the rest of his life on his own terms. She also understood that Jones would not cause any issues between her and her kids, and there was never any conflict between them.
