Clint Black Marks 35th Anniversary Of ‘Killin’ Time’ With Three Heartwarming Nashville Shows
Country icon Clint Black celebrated a big milestone with a run of shows over the weekend at the Ryman Auditorium.
It’s the 35th anniversary of Black’s triple-Platinum debut album Killin’ Time. The album, released in May of 1989, contained multiple hits, including its title track, “A Better Man,” “Walking Away,” “Nobody’s Home,” “Nothing’s News” and more.
Killin’ Time launched Black into country stardom. He went on to sell over 20 million records, earn more than a dozen Gold and Platinum certifications and nab stars on the Hollywood and Music City Walks of Fame. With enduring hits such as “A Good Run Of Bad Luck,” “Like The Rain” and “Nothin’ But The Tailights,” Black has made a long-lasting impact on the genre with songs that he wrote or co-wrote. He was honored with the Poet’s Award at the ACM Honors in August, an award given to the most remarkable and enduring talents in country music songwriting.
Black is commemorating the album that started it all with a world tour, which kicked off with his three-night stand at the Ryman. On night one (Feb. 16), he was in high spirits when the music began. Black was introduced by radio personality Storme Warren, who spoke about his impact on country music.
When the star appeared, he started playing Killin’ Time from top to bottom. Right away, he launched into the ground-breaking album with track one: “Straight from the Factory.”
Black blitzed the crowd with the next few tunes, performing smash after smash with “A Better Man,” “Nobody’s Home” and “Walkin’ Away.” Fans yelled messages of love and admiration to the singer as he made comments about the tunes, how they were written or how he felt about them.
He spoke a lot about songwriting, telling a specific story about how his father told a 22-year-old Black that he needed to live a little bit more life before he had source material for good country songs. He shared that he wrote “Nothing’s News” shortly after.
“Killin’ Time” got the biggest reaction of the night, with fans singing and toe-tapping along as Black sang it through a grin. After singing the album’s final track, “Live and Learn,” Black turned his attention the other hits in his arsenal. Kicking off the second section of the show with “State of Mind,” Black got the Ryman crowd on their feet again with “When My Ship Comes In.”
At one point, Black’s wife, Lisa Hartman Black, and their daughter Lily Pearl Black, joined him on stage. “The lovely part of the show has arrived,” he said. He was right. The three sounded beautiful on “A Change in the Air.”
After playing “Untanglin’ My Mind,” a song he wrote with his hero Merle Haggard, Black launched into No. 1s “Summer’s Comin’,” “Like the Rain” and “A Good Run of Bad Luck.” All of which thrilled the crowd.
Lisa, who donned a white dress reminiscent of a bridal gown, joined him again for their iconic duet “When I Said I Do.” The hair-raising performance had couples in the audience holding each other and singing along.
Black brought the tempo back up with his tribute to Waylon Jennings, “Are You Sure Waylon Done It This Way,” before getting everyone roaring with the opening shuffle of “Nothin’ But The Taillights.” Black and his legion of supporters, satisfied from a night of ’90s country nostalgia, danced the night away before the icon said goodnight.
Catch Black’s “Killin’ Time World Tour” at one of the dates below. Tickets and on-sale information is available at clintblack.com.
Feb. 23, 2024 – Durant, OK – Choctaw Casino
Feb. 24, 2024 – San Antonio, TX – San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo
Feb. 29, 2024 – Roanoke, VA – Berglund Performing Arts Center
March 1, 2024 – Roanoke Rapids, NC – Weldon Mills Theater
March 2, 2024 – Cherokee, NC – Harrah’s Cherokee Event Center
March 23, 2024 – Lancaster, PA – American Music Theatre
March 24, 2024 – Nashville, IN – Brown County Performing Arts Center
April 6, 2024 – Carlton, MN – Black Bear Casino Resort
April 21, 2024 – Georgetown, TX – Two Step Inn Fest
April 26, 2024 – Chandler, AZ – Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino
April 28, 2024 – Indio, CA – Stagecoach
June 13, 2024 – Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Arena
June 14, 2024 – Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Arena
June 15, 2024 – Prince George, BC – CN Arena
June 16, 2024 – Dawson Creek, BC – Ovintiv Arena
June 19, 2024 – Lethbridge, AB – ENMAX Arena
June 21, 2024 – Edmonton, AB – Winspear Centre
June 22, 2024 – Strathmore, AB – Strathmore Stampede
June 25, 2024 – Saskatoon, SK – SaskTel Arena
June 27, 2024 – Moose Jaw, SK – Moose Jaw Arena
July 11, 2024 – New Salem, ND – ND Country Fest
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