After celebrating 35 years as a Grand Ole Opry Member in January of 2026, Clint Black continued his successful Back On the Blacktop Tour by doing a three-day sold-out stint at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, for Valentine’s Weekend.
The tour celebrates Clint’s extensive catalog, featuring fan-favorite hits and new surprises. Year after year, Clint continues bringing his iconic blend of country, storytelling, and heartfelt performances to fans across North America.
Clint Black surged to superstardom as part of the fabled class of 1989, which included Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, and Travis Tritt alongside himself. What sets Black apart from many other artists is that his debut album, Killin’ Time, spun five consecutive #1 singles from the triple-platinum album.
While I attended the 35th anniversary celebration of Black’s Killin’ Time record at the Ryman in 2024, what makes his Black On The Blacktop Tourso special is that the seasoned musician played whatever songs he wanted, including his smash hits, a few deep cuts, and several covers. With 22 number one hits to choose from, more than 20 million records sold, and now billions of streams, the possible combination of songs on his set list is endless.
This past weekend at the Ryman, he began the show with “No Time To Kill” and performed fan favorites like “A Better Man, “Nothing’s News,” “When My Ship Comes In,” “Better or Worse,” “A Good Run of Bad Luck,” “Nothin’ But Taillights,” and of course his mega hit, “Killin’ Time.”
He also covered Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried,” Neil Diamond‘s “Heart of Gold,” and did his version of the Highway Men’s “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?” but with a tribute to Waylon instead.
However, for me, the highlight of the evening was when his beloved wife of nearly 35 years, Lisa Hartman Black, joined on his favorite song, “When I Say I Do.” It was extra special being Valentine’s weekend, and many in attendance were on a date with their love.
Clint and Lisa Black’s 24-year-old daughter, Lily Pearl, proved she had the chops to hang with her famous family when she slayed covering Carrie Underwood’s heartbreaking anthem, “Cry Pretty.”
Lisa and Lily Pearl also joined Black, singing his poetic “A Change In The Air.” The lyrics are exquisite, and their harmony is exceptional.
Black’s bandleader, lead guitarist, and renowned songwriter, Hayden Nicholas, has been with Black from the start, as has longtime bassist, Jake Willemain, whom he “rescued from a jazz club.” Other band members include Dwain Rowe on keyboard, Andy Hull on drums, and multi-instrumentalist Jason Mowery on everything else.
But don’t forget: Clint Black is also an accomplished harmonica player, and on several occasions, he played the harmonica and guitar simultaneously, which blew me away.
Perhaps most impressive is that Clint wrote or co-wrote every one of his more than three dozen chart hits, making him one of the most successful singer/songwriters of the modern era. He earned more than a dozen gold and platinum awards in the U.S. and Canada, including a GRAMMY, landed nearly two dozen major awards and nominations, and stars on the Hollywood and Nashville Walk of Fames. In 2023, Black’s authentic lyricism and powerful musicianship earned him the ACM Honors Poets Award.
But what surprised me most was how funny Clink Black was during his show. Part of being an entertainer is connecting with the audience at live performances. Black’s concert was one of the most enjoyable that I have attended in a long time. If you thought you admired the singer/songwriter before, seeing Black in person will make you love him even more.
Not only that, but Clint Black’s autobiography, “Killing Time, My Life and Music,” will be released in May of 2026. If you have watched any of his “Talking In Circles With Clint Black” episodes, you know how entertaining he is. I can’t wait to read this book.
If you haven’t seen him live already, make every effort to see Clink Black and his band in person this year. You won’t regret it.
Tickets for the Back On The Blacktop Tour are available at clintblack.com.
You can follow Clint Black on his website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming platforms.
Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and TikTok.
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