When Kelly Clarkson filed for divorce from Brandon Blackstock in 2020, it wasn't just another celebrity split. It was messy. It was public. It involved a massive Montana ranch and legal battles that felt like they’d never end. But for a long time, the question of who was Brandon Blackstock dating remained a total mystery. While Kelly moved to New York and processed her heartbreak through her music, Brandon stayed under the radar in the mountains.
It wasn't until August 2025 that the world finally got an answer.
Following Brandon's tragic death at age 48 after a private three-year battle with melanoma, his obituary revealed the person who had been by his side during his final years. Her name is Brittney Marie Jones. And honestly, the details of their relationship are kinda complicated, especially when you look at how they first met.
Who was Brandon Blackstock dating? Meet Brittney Marie Jones
For a guy who spent decades managing huge music stars like Blake Shelton and Rascal Flatts, Brandon’s final chapter was surprisingly quiet. He had traded the glitz of Los Angeles for the rugged terrain of Butte, Montana. In the years following his split from Kelly, he wasn't spotted with any Hollywood A-listers or reality TV stars.
Instead, he was building a life with Brittney.
His obituary described her as his "beautiful and loving partner in life and business." This wasn't just some casual dating situation. They were all-in. Together, they launched companies like the Headwaters Livestock Auction and The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman. They weren't just a couple; they were a team trying to build a legacy in the ranching world.
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The Kelly Clarkson Connection
Here is where it gets a little awkward. Brittney wasn't a stranger to the family.
She actually worked for Kelly Clarkson as a production assistant in Nashville from 2016 to 2018. Later, she transitioned into a role as Brandon’s executive assistant while he was still managing Kelly’s career. By 2020—the same month Kelly filed for divorce—Brittney reportedly moved into a role at Brandon’s V Bar B Cattle Co. ranch in Montana.
Some fans found the timing a bit "suspicious," but sources close to the situation have insisted they didn't start dating until well after the marriage was over. Still, you can imagine how that might feel for Kelly. Imagine your ex-husband settling down with someone who used to get you coffee and manage your schedule. It’s a lot to swallow.
Life on the Montana Ranch
After the divorce was finalized in 2022, Brandon basically disappeared from the public eye. While Kelly was winning Emmys in New York, Brandon was becoming a full-time rancher.
- He lived on the Montana ranch that was a major sticking point in the divorce settlement.
- He paid Kelly $2,000 a month in rent to stay there for a period of time.
- He eventually moved to Butte to start fresh with Brittney.
Brittney’s father, Larry Jones, even took to Facebook after Brandon passed away, calling Brandon his daughter’s "soulmate" and saying he considered Brandon a son. That speaks volumes about how integrated he was into her family. They lived a life that was worlds away from the red carpets of Nashville.
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The Battle Nobody Knew About
One of the most shocking parts of the who was Brandon Blackstock dating story is that Brittney was his primary caregiver during a secret health crisis. Brandon had been fighting melanoma for over three years.
Think about that timeline.
He was diagnosed right around the time the divorce was getting ugly. While the public was focused on spousal support payments and custody hearings, Brandon was quietly fighting for his life. Brittney was the one there for the doctor appointments and the hard days in the mountains.
What Really Happened With the Obituary?
When the obituary was published, it caused a massive stir online. Why? Because it didn't mention Kelly Clarkson at all.
It focused entirely on his "loving partner" Brittney, his four children (Savannah, Seth, River Rose, and Remington Alexander), and his stepmother Reba McEntire. Kelly’s fans called it a "low blow," but others argued that an obituary is for the people who were actually in your life at the end. Since Brandon and Kelly had a notoriously difficult split, it’s perhaps not surprising that his final tribute focused on the woman who stayed with him through his illness.
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Lessons from a Very Private Romance
The story of Brandon and Brittney is a reminder that celebrity lives are often way more nuanced than what we see on Instagram or hear in a breakup song.
Privacy is a choice. Brandon chose to keep his relationship out of the headlines while he was alive. He wanted to be a "cowboy," not a tabloid fixture.
Support systems change. You can go from being someone's boss or assistant to being their "soulmate." Life is messy like that.
Health struggles are often invisible. We never truly know what someone is going through behind closed doors, even when they are involved in a high-profile legal battle.
If you’re following the aftermath of this story, the best thing you can do is respect the privacy of the children involved. River and Remington lost their father, and regardless of the drama between their parents, that’s a heavy burden for young kids. Moving forward, keep an eye on how Kelly handles the legacy of the Montana ranch—it was Brandon's dream, but it's now officially part of her estate's complex history.