Brandon Blackstock ‘Didn’t Start Dating’ Kelly Clarkson’s Former Assistant Until ‘Well After’ Their Divorce (Exclusive)

Kelly Clarkson’s ex-husband Brandon Blackstock didn’t start dating her former assistant, Brittney Marie Jones, until “well after the divorce,” a source tells Star.

According to the source, the talk show host, 43, had known about the romance since “at least last year.”

According to her LinkedIn account, Jones served as Clarkson’s production assistant from 2016 to 2018. From December 2018 to June 2020, she was promoted to Executive Management Assistant, where she served as Blackstock’s Executive Assistant while still continuing to work for Clarkson.

Clarkson filed for divorce from Blackstock in June 2020 after nearly seven years of marriage. Meanwhile, Jones was previously married to Greg Goose LaPoint.

As Star previously reported, Blackstock’s obituary revealed that Jones was his “loving partner in life and business.” Together the two “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.”

Clarkson has “done her best to move on from the past,” says the source, but that doesn’t mean she was thrilled by Blackstock’s relationship with Jones.

“It was hard for her ego to take, especially after everything she went through in the divorce,” says the source. “It felt like a betrayal.”

Following Blackstock’s death — the former talent manager passed away at the age of 48 on August 7 following a three-year battle with melanoma — Clarkson is “devastated,” but focused on their children, River, 11, and Remington, 9.

“She’s got to stay strong for them and keep it together,” explains the source, “but it’s been no easy task.”

Though the loss of Blackstock has “brought up a lot of emotions,”  the source adds, ”Her priority is the kids.”