Brandon Blackstock’s ‘Soulmate’ Brittney Worked as Kelly Clarkson’s Production Assistant, Moved to Montana with Him in 2020

Brandon Blackstock was in a relationship with his ex-wife Kelly Clarkson’s former production assistant when he died on Aug. 7.

Brittney Marie Jones — who was identified in Blackstock’s obituary as his “partner in life and business” — worked as Clarkson’s production assistant in Nashville from 2016 to 2018, according to her LinkedIn.

In December 2018, she transitioned to an executive management assistant role for Blackstock — but still “assistant managed day to day artist schedule for Kelly Clarkson,” according to her profile.

Two years later, in June 2020, the same month Clarkson filed for divorce, Jones became an executive assistant for V Bar B Cattle Co., a Montana ranch owned by Blackstock.

A rep for Clarkson did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

The talent manager’s obituary describes Jones as his “beautiful and loving partner in life and business.”

It also said that the pair “started building a life, building companies, and working tirelessly to create Headwaters Livestock Auction and what will live on as his legacy, The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana.”

On Friday, Aug. 8, Jones’ father Larry paid tribute to Blackstock in a Facebook post, writing, “Yesterday we lost a good man Brandon Blackstock. He described Blackstock as “my daughter’s soulmate,” and said he “considered him my son.”

“My sincere condolences to Brittney Jones and family. We’re sure going to miss your funny humor. R.I.P hoss!” he wrote.

Blackstock was married to Clarkson from 2013 to 2020. The exes — who shared daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9 — finalized their divorce in 2022. He was also dad to son Seth, 18, and daughter Savannah, 23, with ex-wife Melissa Ashworth.

In 2023, Clarkson opened up about the divorce on an episode of Angie Martinez’s IRL podcast.

“It rips you apart,” the “Because of You” singer, 43, said. “Whenever you fall in love with someone and it doesn’t work.”

Clarkson continued, “I think the thing about divorce — especially having it publicized, and people thinking they know the whole thing — the hardest part of that is, like, it wasn’t an overnight decision.”

“Anyone that’s been divorced [knows]. That was years in trying to make — not make it work, ’cause I never wanted to be part of something to ‘make it work,'” added Clarkson. “I wanted to make it beautiful. I wanted to make it awesome. I wanted to make it everything it possibly could be, and sometimes that just doesn’t happen.”

Blackstock died of melanoma, a form of skin cancer, at age 48. His family announced his death in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“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.”