A new report reveals that Brandon Blackstock’s relationship with Kelly Clarkson’s former assistant during their divorce proceedings symbolized the final disappointment in their failed marriage, emerging after Blackstock’s recent death from cancer. This detail adds context to the couple’s contentious 2020 split.
Kelly Clarkson, the Grammy-winning singer and talk show host, and her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, a talent manager, divorced in 2020 after seven years of marriage. Their separation involved bitter legal battles over custody of their two children and financial disputes, with Clarkson initially ordered to pay $150,000 monthly in spousal support.
The revelation came from a Daily Mail source following Blackstock’s death on August 7, 2025. It disclosed that Blackstock began a relationship with Brittney Marie Jones—Clarkson’s former assistant—in June 2020, the same month Clarkson filed for divorce. Jones reportedly relocated to Montana where Blackstock lived during this period.
According to insiders, this relationship represented the ‘icing on the cake’ of Clarkson’s marital disillusionment. While not cited as the primary cause of divorce (Clarkson originally attributed the split to ‘irreconcilable differences’), it compounded her disappointment in Blackstock as a partner. Notably, Clarkson reportedly held no animosity toward Jones and believed she wouldn’t disrupt co-parenting.
The divorce’s financial aftermath saw Clarkson sue Blackstock in 2022, alleging he exploited his role as her manager through unethical deals. An arbitrator later ordered Blackstock to repay $2.6 million. Custody battles also grew contentious, with a 2020 court granting Clarkson primary custody due to ‘increased conflict’ and broken trust between the ex-spouses.
Despite the acrimony, insiders emphasize Clarkson prioritized shielding their children from conflict. She never spoke negatively about Blackstock to their children and privately supported him during his cancer battle, even postponing work commitments to facilitate their children’s time with him.
With Blackstock’s passing, the focus shifts to Clarkson and their children navigating grief. Clarkson has not publicly addressed the new reports, maintaining her consistent approach of keeping family matters private. The children’s relationship with Jones remains unclear, though sources suggest Clarkson remains committed to stable co-parenting dynamics.
This insight into their divorce emerges amid renewed public interest in their relationship following Blackstock’s death, highlighting how posthumous revelations continue to reshape the narrative of their high-profile separation.