Brittney Marie Jones went from working behind the scenes for Kelly Clarkson to building a Montana life with Clarkson’s ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.

When Brandon Blackstock’s obituary was published after his death on August 7, it did not just list the children he adored or the legacy ranching business he built. It also named Brittney as his “beautiful and loving partner in life and business.” For those who have followed Blackstock’s story, that name likely rang a bell. Brittney was not just the woman by his side in Montana; she once worked directly for his famous ex-wife.

According to her LinkedIn profile, Brittney began working for Clarkson as a production assistant in Nashville from 2016 to 2018, handling stage details and managing crew on tour. She later became an executive management assistant at Starstruck Entertainment, the talent management company run by Brandon’s father, Narvel Blackstock, in late 2018. Her duties still included helping manage Clarkson’s schedule.

By June 2020, Brittney had made a major life move. That same month Clarkson filed for divorce, Brittney left the entertainment business and relocated to Montana, taking a role as executive assistant for V Bar B Cattle Co., the ranch Blackstock owned. It was a shift from arenas and TV studios to barns and cattle auctions, and it set the stage for a very different chapter of both their lives.

In Montana, the two poured themselves into building Headwaters Livestock Auction and, eventually, what Brandon’s family calls his lasting legacy: The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman. According to his obituary, it was not just work for them. It was a shared passion. “They started building a life, building companies, and working tirelessly,” the tribute read.

Brittney’s father, Larry, made it clear just how close they were. In a heartfelt Facebook post after Brandon’s passing, he called him his daughter’s “soulmate” and said he considered him like a son. “We’re sure going to miss your funny humor. R.I.P, hoss!” he wrote.

Brandon’s four children, Savannah, Seth, River, and Remington, were also part of Brittney’s world in Montana. A source told Us Weekly that his kids “spent a lot of time with her and had grown close to her,” suggesting that she played a steady role in their lives over the past few years.

Blackstock, who was married to Clarkson from 2013 to 2020, kept a low public profile after the divorce. He stayed in Montana while Clarkson kept her primary home in New York City, focusing on ranch life and raising his kids. Despite the high-profile nature of his split from the singer, those close to him say that his family embraced Brittney fully and supported the relationship.

His death at 48 from melanoma brought an end to a three-year battle with the disease. His family said he passed peacefully, surrounded by loved ones. While Clarkson has not spoken publicly since his passing, sources have said she was “devastated” for the sake of their children and had taken time off work earlier this year to make sure they could spend time with him.

Now, as the dust settles, Brittney is left not just with memories of their time together but with the legacy they built side by side in the Montana mountains, one that will live on in every rodeo event, cattle sale, and community gathering they helped bring to life.