New Details About the Death of Kelly Clarkson's Ex-Husband Brandon Blackstock Emerge

Loved ones shared details of the late talent manager's celebration of life in an obituary that omitted one notable person but included his "beautiful and loving partner."

Just days after his death on August 7, 2025, following a three-year battle with cancer, Brandon Blackstock's family confirmed plans for a celebration of life on Sunday, August 17, in Montana.

His obituary, shared by Butte Funeral Homes, reflected on his return to the "cowboy way of life" and named Brittney Marie Jones as a "beautiful and loving partner." His ex-wife, Kelly Clarkson, was not mentioned in the list of surviving loved ones.

The obituary listed Brandon's four children — Savannah Blackstock Lee, Seth Blackstock, River Rose Blackstock, and Remington Blackstock — along with his parents, Narvel Wayne Blackstock and Elisa Gayle Ritter Gilbert.

It also named his stepparents, Reba McEntire, Laura Putty Blackstock, and Daniel Eugene Gilbert, his siblings Shawna Blackstock Meyers, Chassidy Blackstock Standefer, and Shelby McEntire Blackstock, and his grandchildren Lake Easton Lee, Julianna Rae Lee, and the soon-to-arrive LouCasey Lee.

After more than two decades in the music industry, Brandon moved to Montana to embrace the cowboy lifestyle he had always wanted.

There, he and Brittney Marie built a home together and worked side by side to establish Headwaters Livestock Auction and the Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman — ventures described in his obituary as his legacy.

Brittney Marie played a significant role in his professional life. According to her LinkedIn profile, she worked as a production assistant for Kelly from December 2016 to December 2018.

She became Brandon's executive assistant at Starstruck Entertainment, a position she held until mid-2020.

She later relocated to Montana, assuming her current role as executive assistant at V Bar V Cattle Co., LLC, in Philipsburg. Her LinkedIn also noted that she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Audio Production from The Art Institute of Tennessee–Nashville in 2011.

During her studies, she served two years as president of the Audio Engineering Society and gained hands-on experience with SSL Duality consoles, Pro Tools, and Logic. She also completed a six-month internship at Capitol Records in the marketing department.

The funeral home's announcement invited all friends and loved ones to attend Brandon's celebration of life, asking them to contact the family for service details. Instead of flowers, donations were requested for the Brandon Blackstock Memorial Fund at the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation.

Among the many public tributes was one from Brandon's former stepmother, Reba. She posted smiling photos of herself with him on Instagram, writing, "Last week, my stepson/oldest son Brandon Blackstock went home to be with God. His struggle is over and he is in eternal peace in God's presence."

She continued, "There is no one else like him, and I'm thankful for the time we had together. His legacy and laughter will be carried on through his family. Rest in peace cowboy. Happy trails to you til we meet again."

As tributes continued to pour in and loved ones shared memories of his life, official reports offered a clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding his passing.

The Silver Bow County Coroner ruled that Brandon's death was from natural causes. The former talent manager had been privately battling illness for years, drawing concern from loved ones and prompting heartfelt tributes from his family.

As reported by Fox News Digital, officials confirmed the cause was melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Coroner Dan Hollis said Brandon died on August 7 at his home in Butte, Montana, under hospice care.

The coroner's confirmation came after his family announced his death in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away."

The family added, "Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time."

According to People, Brandon moved to Montana shortly after his diagnosis, where he spent his final days. There, he kept a low profile, living on his ranch and staying active in rodeo, with some former colleagues from Starstruck Entertainment even relocating to work with him.

In the last year, as his health worsened, he focused on treatment while spending more time with his family, especially in the final six months, when they were together more than ever.

A separate source told People how Kelly felt as her ex-husband faced health struggles. The source said, "When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake. Kelly has always tried to keep things classy. It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. She's been devastated for the kids."

As those close to him reflected on his final years, Brandon's son from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth, Seth, honored his father in a heartfelt Instagram post on August 8.

"I lost my hero yesterday, words can't describe how proud of you I am on [sic] raising me and your 3 other kids. You were a father, a son, a brother, and most importantly my best friend," Seth's post read.

Seth reflected on how he would now carry on life knowing his father was watching over him, expressing that no one could compare to the man his dad had been.

He said he would think of him every day and fondly recalled his father's skill and passion for hunting, joking that wildlife would be relieved with his passing. He ended by looking forward to one day fishing with him again and closed with a loving farewell.

Seth shared a series of personal photos with his father, capturing moments from childhood through recent years — from family time and pets to ranch work, rodeos, and horseback riding.

Brandon's passing has cast a personal shadow over Kelly’s career, even as plans for the future of her talk show take shape.

She is reportedly returning for the seventh season of NBC's "The Kelly Clarkson Show" later this year, with new episodes expected in September, though an exact date has not been confirmed.

TMZ broke the news on August 8, months after Kelly stepped away from the talk show in March of this year. Fans began noticing her absence when several celebrity guest hosts filled in for her while she was away.

Sources later confirmed that the "Catch My Breath" singer's hiatus was due to Brandon's illness and, eventually, his death.

Kelly's staff on her namesake show reportedly knew about Brandon's health battles, but kept it quiet out of respect for the former couple's privacy.

Just a day before his death, Kelly had announced that she was postponing the August dates of her "Studio Sessions" residency in Las Vegas. The artist said at the time that she needed to be "fully present" for her children amid their father's health struggles.