Clint Black Tells 'Raw, Intimate, Unflinching' Story Of His Life In New Way

Clint Black shares a “raw, intimate, and unflinching” glimpse into his life and career in his new memoir.

Black, 64, officially published Killin’ Time: My Life and Music on Tuesday (May 19). The award-winning country star’s signature wit, humor and honesty guides readers through stories of his childhood in Texas, the twists and turns in his musical journey, his life with wife Lisa Hartman Black and daughter Lily Pearl Black, never-before-told details (including near-death experiences, numerous surgeries and other stories), and much more. His memoir is “a love letter to country music and a deeply personal reflection on the power of faith, determination, and the courage to stick to your own guns, no matter what,” its description reads.

“I never thought I would do it. I never thought I'd write a book,” Black, who appeared on The Bobby Bones Show on Tuesday morning, said in a recent conversation with iHeartCountry. He said he opted to tell his story because others “convinced me I could do it,” and he appreciated the idea of “having a book my daughter could read.” Black’s lead guitarist, Hayden Nicholas, and author Craig Shelburne, were among those who offered support with the process and the research. Shelburne assisted Black with research, organizing the timeline and conducting recorded conversations with band members, Black’s wife and daughter, and more.

Black reflected, “the editing process is a whole ‘nother world. I thought I'd finished the book, but I hadn't. My editor stepped in and she would give me notes and I'd have to go back through chapters and reread. And after about five times of that in the process, my own book started hitting me in a different way. The emotional impact of it started getting through to me as I'd been so busy writing and focusing on the facts and all of that. I did have the emotions but not like I did in the latter part of the editing process.” The natural “wordsmith” added that the emotions he felt while writing his book resonated in a more “dramatic” way than they do when he’s writing music.

“I had to relive things,” Black said of the writing process. “I had to run back to my brothers at times and (ask), ‘was that in ‘67, do you remember?’ It was like being an investigative journalist into my own past. …The way things are said or phrased as an entertainer, the way I talk to the audience to get a laugh or get a point across, that compares well because I'm trying to entertain the reader,” he said later of the similarities between songwriting and writing his memoir. “And so, the way it's worded and whether or not it's concise and it hits a point, if I'm trying to inject some humor, then you have to be going along and sort of make a turn that they didn't expect to read.”

Black said Killin’ Time will offer his “behind-the-scenes” stories of “what was really going on,” during some points of his life and career. That includes a lawsuit, bicycling accident that led to injuries that required surgeries (and “had a huge impact on the next 20 years of my life”), his wife’s pregnancy losses before their daughter’s arrival in 2001, and more. “We didn't share all that,” Black said. “Everyone has their own problems, and I always felt like we have our own set, you have yours, and I'm not going to whine about mine. But there were a lot of things going on in that time period that hopefully if I was ever quick with anyone and needed to go, maybe they'll just give them some insight.”

The “A Better Man” singer also looked back on “fun things,” including “working on the D’lectrified album, and getting to know Eric Idle…hanging out with George Harrison and jamming, playing Beatles songs all night,” plus stories with Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, Clint Eastwood and more.

In his book, Black reflected on the moment he received the box from his record label containing copies of his debut studio album, Killin’ Time, in 1989. He recently experienced a similar feeling when he received a delivery on his front porch. This time, the package was full of copies of his memoir. “Something's not real until you have that, ’til you have that actual book that has been produced in your hands,” he said. “The idea that my fans, other interested parties, might be holding that book soon and looking at my life in those words is pretty thrilling.”

Black also said it was “thrilling” and “moving” to see his newly-unveiled exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. He spoke with iHeartCountry at the opening celebration last month, taking a moment to look at his awards, set lists, manuscripts, stage wear, photos, videos and other artifacts displayed at the museum. The country star and his wife also make an appearance in the new Lifetime romance, When I Said I Do, inspired by the married couple’s 1999 duet. The movie premieres on the Lifetime network at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Saturday (May 23). Black said he has “lots of fun stuff going on,” amid his memoir’s debut.

“It was so much fun being had during even difficult times that I think it's like every life lived to its fullest,” he said while speaking with iHeartCountry about Killin’ Time. “You're going to go through some pain and heartache and you're also going to be able to laugh through some of that maybe until you cry. So, there's a pretty good mix of it all.”