Kelly Clarkson stars in a touching special that airs Tuesday night, marking her return to television after the tragic death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock.
The pre-recorded broadcast is the first installment of a four-part series called Songs & Stories in which she will explore the history behind certain musical numbers.
Celebrity guests are joining Clarkson, with the Jonas Brothers appearing on the first episode, followed in subsequent weeks by Gloria Estefan, Teddy Swims and Lizzo.
In a clip from the upcoming NBC show, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas will be seen fondly remembering the time they opened for Clarkson on tour in 2005 and then singing their 2006 song Year 3000 in which they give her a tip of the hat.
Nick, 32, also revealed a co-writing credit he has on a song with Clarkson and comedy legend Steve Martin – a story that took even his brothers by surprise.
Blackstock, who was married to Clarkson from 2013 to 2022 and had two children with her, died earlier this month aged just 48 after a secret battle with skin cancer.
Kelly Clarkson stars in a touching special that airs Tuesday night, marking her return to television after the tragic death of her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock
The Jonas Brothers opened for Clarkson three years after she had catapulted to stardom as the winner of American Idol, before they themselves were famous.
Speaking to Clarkson on her special, Nick shared that ‘one of our first festival shows that we were ever on was in Thomas River, New Jersey and you were the headliner.’
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Brandon Blackstock had intimate celebration of life hosted by 'loving partner'… but was Kelly Clarkson there?
He dished that ‘for like years as a way to get our foot in the door in interviews,’ he and his brothers would boast that they had ‘opened for Kelly Clarkson.’
However he gamely added that ‘we were not an opener,’ as they were playing ‘in the parking lot on like a B, B, B, C stage,’ but Clarkson insisted they were ‘still opening.’
One year later, the Jonas Brothers released a song called Year 3000 that included the lines: ‘I took a trip to the year 3000. This song had gone multi-platinum. Everybody bought our seventh album. It had outsold Kelly Clarkson.’
In a heartwarming bit of nostalgia, Clarkson took the stage with the Jonas Brothers during Tuesday’s special and sang part of the song, including the reference to her.
Nick also shared that he has a writing credit on Clarkson’s song I Hate Love, along with none other than iconic comedian Steve Martin.
Even his brothers were unaware of the connection, prompting Nick to tell them the story behind his unexpected collaboration.
The two were married from 2013 to 2020 and shared daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9 (the former couple are seen in June 2020)
Nick recalled that he got a call one day asking him to ‘approve the splits’ on a song, which Clarkson explained means ‘if people have been writing on songs and then other people start working on them.’
It then emerged that, according to Nick, ‘a producer that we both worked with had opened up a guitar track or something that I had started,’ after which Clarkson ‘finished the song’ and a banjo part by Steve Martin was tacked on.
The special comes after Blackstock was honored at a celebration of life hosted by his ‘loving partner’ – who used to be Clarkson’s assistant.
Brittney Marie Jones – who had allegedly cheated on her then-husband with the talent manager – was one of the attendees as Blackstock’s friends and family gathered in Montana to honor him after losing three year battle with cancer.
‘Brandon’s closest friends and family gathered over the weekend for a few days to celebrate his life in the place he loved most. It was very private.
‘His partner, Brittney [Marie Jones], his family and his closest friends spent time at his home sharing memories of Brandon and remembering how much he meant to them,’ a source told UsWeekly on Tuesday.
It remains unclear if Clarkson or their kids were in attendance as she was not mentioned in his obituary.
The insider continued by telling the weekly: ‘It was special for everyone to spend time in Montana walking and hiking the roads Brandon loved so much, and to gather at his home to remember him.’
The pre-recorded broadcast is the first installment of a four-part series called Songs & Stories in which she will explore the history behind certain musical numbers
Celebrity guests will join Clarkson, with the Jonas Brothers appearing on the first episode (pictured), followed in subsequent weeks by Gloria Estefan, Teddy Swims and Lizzo
Shane Tarleton was in attendance at the celebration of life as he posted an Instagram Story, which has since expired, featuring a photo of attendees sitting around a firepit.
He captioned it: ‘@brandonblackstock would’ve loved this night so much. So many of his fav people in his backyard around a campfire at sunset.’
UsWeekly also reported that Nashville hairstylist Amanda Craig also posted a photo of herself with her husband smiling.
She captioned it: ‘We understand why you loved it here so much. Celebrating your wonderful life over the weekend was a true gift. We love you BB!’
Meanwhile, Page Six reported on Friday that Jones’ husband Greg Goose LaPoint found out about her alleged affair with the now deceased music executive in the summer of 2023.
‘He got screwed over due to [Jones and Blackstock’s] fling starting during his marriage,’ a source told the publication.
Daily Mail has reached out to Blackstock’s management company, Jones, and LaPoint for comment and have yet to hear back.
This comes amid news that 43-year-old Clarkson’s late ex-husband Blackstock had a ‘loving partner’ at the time of his death–Jones, according to his newly published obituary.
Blackstock — who was married to Clarkson from 2013 to 2020 and shared daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9 — died on Aug. 7 at age 48 following a private, years-long battle with melanoma.
Nick, 32, also revealed a co-writing credit he has on a song with Clarkson and comedy legend Steve Martin – a story that took even his brothers by surprise
The obituary, released Tuesday, revealed that Blackstock had been in a relationship with Jones and was quietly building a new life with her in Montana, a fact unknown to many fans.
‘After more than 20 years in the music business, Brandon found his way back to the mountains and the cowboy way of life he always wanted to live,’ the obituary read. ‘He found a homestead and a love in Butte, Montana.’
It went on: ‘Brandon, along with his beautiful and loving partner in life and business, Brittney Marie Jones, 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.’
In a bombshell revelation, a December 2024 report by the US Sun on Blackstock and Jones’s rodeo business listed Jones as Clarkson’s ‘former assistant.’
DailyMail.com had not received a response to its request for comment from reps for Clarkson earlier this week.
A prior LinkedIn profile for Jones highlighted in the 2024 US Sun report reveals she served as an executive assistant to Brandon Blackstock as well as an assistant to Kelly Clarkson while Blackstock managed the singer.
‘I successfully assistant managed day to day for artist, Kelly Clarkson under manager, Brandon Blackstock in Los Angeles for music and television,’ the profile read, according to The Sun.
‘After a change in management for Ms. Clarkson, I transitioned to Executive Assistant for Mr. Blackstock’s cattle operation in Montana, where I currently run the office and handle administration work.
In a clip from the upcoming show, Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas will be seen fondly remembering the time they opened for Clarkson on tour in 2005
‘I also currently fulfill personal assistant duties for Mr. Blackstock.’
Jones’s LinkedIn also identifies her as the Executive Assistant of V Bar V Cattle Co. LLC — formerly Vintage Valley Ranch — one of Blackstock’s companies, further tying her to his post-divorce life in Montana.
Jones was previously married to the aforementioned LaPoint- who is a drummer for the band Gypsy Nights and a holistic nutritionist for The Holistic Goose in Nashville according to his Instagram bio – according to details found on her Facebook page.
The couple shared wedding photos from their September 2021 ceremony, offering a glimpse into their life together.
However, the exact timeline and circumstances of their separation remain unclear, but LaPoint has kept remnants of their relationship up on social media as he took to Instagram on Sept. 11, 2022 to write: ‘It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we said, “I do.”
‘I can not imagine a world without you by my side, a partner who is as real as they come. A lover, cuddler and sure spit fire. I am forever grateful I get to call you my wife.’
According to Page Six’s source, when LaPoint found out about his wife’s alleged affair, he asked her immediately to file for divorce and it was officially filed on July 13, 2023 citing ‘irreconcilable differences’ per court records obtained by Page Six.
Jones had listed she and LaPoint’s date of separation as January 2023, however, the musician had posted a photo of them smiling on a hike together that month.
Blackstock’s ‘loving partner’ Brittney Marie Jones – who was his ex-wife Kelly Clarkson’s assistant – participated in an intimate celebration of life after his death at 48 as he died on Aug. 7 at age 48 following a private, years-long battle with melanoma
Their divorce was ultimately finalized by February 2024 according to court records.
The bombshell dropped just hours after Melissa Ashworth, Blackstock’s first wife, spoke out publicly about his passing.
‘On May 29, 1999 I married the man who would become the father of my children,’ Ashworth wrote on Instagram over the weekend.
Her post included a collection of photos featuring Blackstock, their children — son Seth, 18, and daughter Savannah, 23 — as well as Savannah’s husband, Quentin Lee.
She also shared a throwback from their wedding day, reflecting on the man she once called her husband.
‘Brandon was full of charm, wit, and just an absolute gentleman who happened to wear cowboy boots, wrangler jeans, and a cowboy hat. He was by far, hands down, the best Daddy and Pa. He loved hard and he fought hard,’ she wrote.
‘The best thing Brandon has left for his children is they know where he is. I’ve heard it said, “Nothing is lost when you know where it is” and Brandon is with Jesus his Savior,” she continued.
‘Savannah, Seth, and our grandchildren are the best parts of who Brandon and I are. Thank you all for your prayers and condolences.’
After their divorce, Blackstock married Clarkson, and the two went on to have two children.
Ashworth’s message came just hours after her and Blackstock’s son Seth also posted his own heartfelt tribute to his father.
He shared a series of photos with his father, ranging from his early childhood to more recent years.
In one snapshot from Seth’s tribute, a toddler-aged Seth flashes a wide grin while his father smiles proudly behind him.
Another image captures a slightly older Seth alongside his sister Savannah, laughing as they play outside with their German Shepherd and their dad.
‘I lost my hero yesterday, words can’t describe how proud of you I am on raising me and your 3 other kids,’ Seth wrote in his caption.
Clarkson, 43, and Blackstock were married from 2013–2022 and welcomed two children, River, 11, and Remington, nine — he also has two children from a previous marriage; pictured in 2019 in LA
‘You were a father, a son, a brother, and most importantly my best friend.
‘You’ll have to watch me grow up from a Birds Eye view now buts that’s OK with me. There’s no one else on this earth that I would want to be my dad because no one can be half the man you were to me,’ he continued. ‘I’ll see you everyday when the sun rises and falls.
‘I can confidently say all the deer and elk took a sigh of relief when the best hunter I’ve ever known laid his rifle down for the last time,’ Seth concluded. ‘I love you so much and can’t wait to throw a line in the water with you again. Love you dad. Be good or good at it — love your son Seth.’
Blackstock, the former stepson of country superstar Reba McEntire, was married to the American Idol star from 2013–2022.
The news of Blackstock’s death came hours after Clarkson revealed she was postponing the remaining dates on her Las Vegas residency in August due to her ex-husband’s illness.
A representative for the family said in a statement: ‘It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away.
‘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.’