Following Brandon Blackstock’s death on August 7, 2025, his family shared details of his life and memorial, notably excluding his ex-wife, Kelly Clarkson, while highlighting his partner, Brittney Marie Jones.
Brandon Blackstock, Kelly Clarkson’s former husband, passed away at 48 after a three-year fight with melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. His family announced a celebration of life set for August 17 in Montana, as detailed in an obituary from Butte Funeral Homes. The obituary celebrated his embrace of a “rancher’s life” but omitted Kelly, instead naming Brittney Marie Jones as his “cherished partner.”
The obituary listed Brandon’s children—Savannah Blackstock Lee, Seth Blackstock, River Rose Blackstock, and Remington Blackstock—his parents, Narvel Blackstock and Elisa Ritter Gilbert, stepparents Reba McEntire, Laura Blackstock, and Daniel Gilbert, siblings Shawna Meyers, Chassidy Standefer, and Shelby Blackstock, and grandchildren Lake, Julianna, and soon-to-be-born LouCasey Lee.
After years in music management, Brandon relocated to Montana post-diagnosis, pursuing a cowboy lifestyle. With Brittney, he built a home and launched Headwaters Livestock Auction and Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, ventures his obituary called his lasting legacy. Brittney, per her LinkedIn, worked as Kelly’s production assistant from 2016 to 2018, then as Brandon’s assistant at Starstruck Entertainment until 2020. She now serves as executive assistant at V Bar V Cattle Co. in Philipsburg, holding a 2011 audio production degree from The Art Institute of Tennessee–Nashville, with experience in Pro Tools and a Capitol Records internship.
The funeral home invited loved ones to the memorial, requesting donations to the Brandon Blackstock Memorial Fund at the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation instead of flowers. Reba McEntire, Brandon’s former stepmother, shared an Instagram tribute with photos, writing, “My stepson Brandon found peace with God last week. His spirit lives on in his family. Rest easy, cowboy.”
Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis confirmed Brandon died of natural causes from melanoma at his Butte home, under hospice care, surrounded by family. His family’s statement read, “Brandon fought cancer bravely for over three years, passing peacefully with loved ones. We ask for privacy and prayers.” According to People, Brandon lived quietly in Montana, focusing on rodeo and ranch life, with some Starstruck colleagues joining him. In his final year, he prioritized treatment and family time, especially in his last six months.
A source told People that Kelly, despite their 2022 divorce, remained supportive for their children, River and Remington. “She stayed classy, but Brandon’s decline this year hit her hard for the kids’ sake,” the source said. Kelly paused her Las Vegas “Studio Sessions” residency on August 6, citing the need to be with her children during Brandon’s illness. Her absence from “The Kelly Clarkson Show” in March 2025, with guest hosts filling in, was later linked to his health struggles, kept private by her team.
Brandon’s son Seth posted a moving Instagram tribute on August 8, saying, “I lost my hero, my best friend. I’m so proud of you, Dad, for raising us four kids.” Accompanied by photos from childhood to recent ranch days, Seth reflected on his father’s hunting passion and vowed to carry his memory forward.
As Kelly prepares for the seventh season of her talk show in September, Brandon’s passing leaves a poignant mark. His Montana life and family tributes paint a picture of a man who found peace in his roots.