Key Point Summary – Brandon Blackstock obituary
- Obituary reveals Blackstock had partner Brittney Marie Jones
- Jones previously worked as Clarkson’s assistant
- Couple built a rodeo and cattle business in Montana
- Tributes poured in from his first wife and son
- Blackstock died after a private melanoma battle at 48
A Shocking Detail Emerges In Obituary
The entertainment world is reeling after a stunning revelation in the obituary of Brandon Blackstock, the late ex-husband of Kelly Clarkson. Blackstock died on August 7 at 48 after a private, years-long fight with melanoma. The obituary revealed he had been in a loving relationship with Brittney Marie Jones — a woman once identified as Clarkson’s assistant.
The tribute described a man who had stepped away from the music industry to live the cowboy life he always wanted. “After more than 20 years in the music business, Brandon found his way back to the mountains and the cowboy way of life he always wanted to live,” it read. “He found a homestead and a love in Butte, Montana.”
It also named Jones as his “beautiful and loving partner in life and business.” The couple had started the Headwaters Livestock Auction and were building what they hoped would be his legacy — The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana.
The Assistant Connection
Fans were stunned by the connection between Jones and Clarkson. A December 2024 report on Blackstock and Jones’s rodeo business described Jones as Clarkson’s “former assistant.” According to a LinkedIn profile highlighted in the report, Jones had worked as an executive assistant to Blackstock and as an assistant to Clarkson while he managed the singer’s career.
“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. After Clarkson changed management, Jones moved to Montana. There, she worked as an executive and personal assistant for Blackstock’s cattle operation.
Her LinkedIn also lists her as the Executive Assistant of V Bar V Cattle Co. LLC — formerly Vintage Valley Ranch — one of Blackstock’s companies. This further linked her to his post-divorce life.
A Past Marriage And New Beginnings
Jones was previously married to Greg Goose LaPoint. Their wedding photos from September 2021 remain on her Facebook page. The timeline of their separation is unclear, but by the time of Blackstock’s death, she was deeply involved in his Montana ventures and personal life.
DailyMail.com reported that Clarkson’s team had not commented on the revelation.
Tributes From His First Family
The obituary detail surfaced just hours after Melissa Ashworth, Blackstock’s first wife, posted her own emotional tribute. Married to him from 1999 to 2012, Ashworth shared family photos of their children — son Seth, 18, and daughter Savannah, 23 — along with heartfelt memories.
“Brandon was full of charm, wit, and just an absolute gentleman who happened to wear cowboy boots, wrangler jeans, and a cowboy hat. He was by far the best Daddy and Pa. He loved hard and he fought hard,” she wrote.
She ended with a note of faith: “The best thing Brandon has left for his children is they know where he is… Brandon is with Jesus his Savior.”
A Son’s Heartfelt Farewell
The tributes continued with their son Seth’s own farewell. He posted a series of photos from his early childhood to recent years, calling his father his “hero” and “best friend.”
“You were a father, a son, a brother, and most importantly my best friend,” Seth wrote. “There’s no one else I would want to be my dad because no one can be half the man you were to me.”
He closed on a bittersweet note: “All the deer and elk took a sigh of relief when the best hunter I’ve ever known laid his rifle down for the last time.”
Clarkson And Blackstock’s Chapter
After divorcing Ashworth, Blackstock married Kelly Clarkson in 2013. The pair had two children together — daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. They divorced in 2020, finalizing the split in 2022 after a high-profile legal battle.
News of Blackstock’s death came the same day Clarkson postponed her remaining Las Vegas residency shows. She cited her ex-husband’s illness as the reason.
A Private Battle Comes To Light
In a statement, the family confirmed his passing and revealed his three-year battle with melanoma. “Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family,” it read.
The statement ended with a request for privacy during “this very difficult time.”
Blackstock, once a high-profile music manager and the former stepson of Reba McEntire, leaves behind a complex personal history. His final years in Montana brought him peace, a new love, and a fresh start away from the spotlight.
With the link between Jones and Clarkson now public, the revelation has added a dramatic twist to an already emotional farewell. Fans are left reflecting on the intertwined personal and professional lives of the people involved — and the unexpected final chapter of a man who once stood center stage in the country music world.
