When Brandon Blackstock passed away in August 2025, the world expected a standard, somber Hollywood obituary. What they got instead was a revelation that sent ripples through the entertainment industry and social media alike. For years, the public narrative focused almost entirely on the scorched-earth divorce between Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson. Legal battles over ranches, spousal support, and management fees dominated the headlines.
But tucked away in the foothills of Butte, Montana, a very different story had been unfolding.
It turns out Brandon Blackstock hadn't just been "hiding out" on his ranch; he had been building a whole new life with Brittney Jones (often cited as Brittney Marie Jones). If that name sounds familiar to hardcore Kelly Clarkson fans, it’s for a reason that makes the whole situation "kinda" complicated.
The Assistant Who Became a Partner
Honestly, the timeline is what trips most people up. Brittney Jones wasn't a total stranger to the Blackstock-Clarkson household. According to professional records and insiders, she actually worked as Kelly Clarkson’s production assistant in Nashville starting around 2016.
By late 2018, her role shifted. She moved into an executive management assistant position for Brandon, though she still helped manage Kelly’s day-to-day artist schedule. It was a classic "inner circle" dynamic. Then came June 2020—the same month Kelly famously filed for divorce.
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In that very same month, Brittney transitioned to an executive assistant role for the V Bar B Cattle Co., Brandon’s ranch in Montana.
People love to speculate about when the professional relationship turned personal. Was there an overlap? Did the romance start while they were still in Nashville? We don't have a smoking gun for that, and it's probably better not to guess. What we do know is that by the time Brandon was facing his final years, Brittney wasn't just an employee. She was his "soulmate," according to her own father.
Building a Legacy in the Big Sky State
While the media was busy tracking every dollar of the divorce settlement, Brandon Blackstock and Brittney Jones were quietly launching businesses. They weren't just living together; they were grinding.
The couple founded Headwaters Livestock Auction and worked to establish The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman. These weren't just vanity projects. In his final years, Brandon reportedly told friends he had finally found the "cowboy way of life" he’d always wanted. It’s a bit of a plot twist for a man who spent decades navigating the high-pressure music business in Los Angeles and Nashville.
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- Headwaters Livestock Auction: A business they built from the ground up to serve the local ranching community.
- The Valley View Rodeo: Designed as a tribute to Western heritage and the lifestyle Brandon embraced after the split.
Brittney Jones was the Managing Director of these ventures. She wasn't just a girlfriend on the sidelines; she was the operational backbone of his new life.
The Obituary Controversy
The real "internet-breaking" moment happened when Brandon’s obituary was published. In a move that many fans called a "low blow," the obituary didn't mention Kelly Clarkson once. Not even as the mother of two of his children.
Instead, it highlighted Brittney Jones as his "beautiful and loving partner in life and business." It described how they "started building a life" and "working tirelessly" together. For fans who had watched Kelly pour her heart into her Chemistry album, this felt like a final, public erasure.
However, looking at it through a different lens, it showed just how deeply Brandon had moved on. He spent his final three years battling melanoma—a battle he kept remarkably private. Throughout that time, Brittney was the one by his side. Her father, Larry Jones, even posted a tribute on Facebook (which was later made private) calling Brandon his "daughter's soulmate" and saying he considered Brandon his own son.
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Where Things Stand Now
It's 2026, and the dust has started to settle, but the complexity remains. Kelly Clarkson has recently opened up in Q&A sessions about how she’s navigating life five months after Brandon's death. She’s focused on her kids, River and Remy, who are now 11 and 9.
Kelly has been candid about the "heavy" atmosphere at home, mentioning that she’s been letting the kids sleep in her bed for extra comfort. It’s a reminder that regardless of the drama between the adults, there are real children mourning a father.
Brittney Jones, for her part, has remained mostly out of the spotlight since the funeral. She continues to reside in Montana, presumably overseeing the businesses they built together. She’s never been one for the "fame" side of things, which is perhaps why the relationship worked so well for Brandon in his final chapter. He wanted to get away from the cameras; she was already there, living the ranch life with him.
Actionable Insights for Following the Story
If you're trying to keep up with the latest developments regarding the Blackstock estate or the future of the Montana businesses, here’s how to filter the noise:
- Check Local Montana Business Registries: If you want to see if Headwaters Livestock Auction or the Rodeo remains in the family, Montana’s Secretary of State filings are the only place for real facts, not gossip.
- Watch for Trademark Filings: Often, celebrity estates will file new trademarks for "legacy" brands. This will tell you if Brittney or the Blackstock children plan to expand the "Valley View" name into apparel or media.
- Prioritize Primary Sources: With AI-generated rumors at an all-time high, stick to verified interviews from The Kelly Clarkson Show or official statements from the family’s representative.
The story of Brittney Jones and Brandon Blackstock isn't just a tabloid headline about a "former assistant." It’s a case study in how public figures often lead double lives—one in the courtroom and one in the quiet, rugged corners of the world where they feel most at home.