Brandon Blackstock obituary omits Clarkson

The obituary shared online highlights Brittney Marie Jones as Blackstock’s partner and does not mention Kelly Clarkson.

Brandon Blackstock obituary omits Clarkson and highlights Brittney Jones

Brandon Blackstock died on August 7 at his home in Butte, Montana, after a three year battle with melanoma. The family said he died peacefully and was surrounded by loved ones.

The obituary describes Brittney Marie Jones as Blackstock’s “beautiful and loving partner in life and business.” It says they had started building a life and businesses together, including Headwaters Livestock Auction and The Valley View Rodeo in Bozeman, Montana. The piece makes no mention of Clarkson, with whom Blackstock shared two children. Clarkson and Blackstock were married from 2013 to 2020, and their divorce was finalized in 2022. The notice also omits Blackstock’s first wife, Melissa Ashworth, while listing his children, grandchildren, and extended family. Clarkson’s public statements around her family’s needs are noted elsewhere in coverage, including her decision to postpone August Las Vegas residency dates to support her children as his illness progressed.

In a statement, the family’s representative thanked supporters and asked for privacy during a difficult time, while the obituary itself centers on family continuity and Blackstock’s business ventures rather than his marriages.

The obituary shapes a last memory that emphasizes a partner's life and shared enterprise over public romantic history. That choice steers the narrative toward legacy, business, and family continuity, not the drama of past splits. It also raises questions about how families curate a final image when multiple public figures are involved. In a world where private life and public life collide, such edits tell readers what the family believes should endure as memory and what should fade. The result may comfort some relatives while leaving fans and media to fill gaps with speculation. The real test is whether the obituary helps future generations understand who Blackstock was beyond headlines.

Highlights

Memory favors the living who decide what to preserve and what to leave behind.