Singer-songwriter Clint Black is back in the spotlight with the latest exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, “Clint Black: The Hard Way on Purpose.” The tribute explores his long career in country music, exemplifying creative tenacity and artistic sensitivity, and features exclusive memorabilia in collaboration with Black and his family.
The featured exhibit will be on display through August 2027, giving fans plenty of time to view specially curated guitars and awards and learn all about the influential performer’s success that has generated 29 top ten hits and sales of more than 20 million albums.
Despite Black’s status as one of contemporary country music’s essential artists, he shared that he was shocked to find out he’d be a featured part of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum repertoire. “I truly was surprised and moved,” he said.
His professional story began in Texas, where his passion for music was born. And the tale of his rise to Music City glory, which comes to life in the brand-new exhibit, shows that hard work and creative willpower go a long way when chasing a dream.
A Musical ‘Maverick’
A Martin guitar is one of several instruments on display for the exhibit; one Black purchased a couple of years after signing with RCA records in the late 1980s. Guitars have always been his instrument of choice while writing hits such as “A Better Man” and “Like the Rain,” but his love of music was ignited by a different instrument.
At 13, a family friend gave Black a Hohner Marine Band harmonica, and after that, music became his life’s purpose. He listened to country and blues records of all kinds at his childhood home in a quiet Houston suburb, ultimately picking up a guitar, then drums and bass. He became a skilled instrumentalist while also delving into the art of songwriting.
Before becoming a hit-making country artist, Black dabbled in other occupations. He was an ironworker alongside his three older brothers for a time. His siblings were also musically gifted, and he played some of his earliest gigs with them. Among the trophies in the exhibit showcasing his musical prowess is one from a different career path, his days as a newspaper salesman for the Houston Post. He came in second place in 1978 for selling the most subscriptions.
Though he had success in whatever he set out to do, whether working with iron or expanding a newspaper readership, he reached a level of success he never imagined when his single “Killin’ Time” was released in the summer of 1989. A no-holds-barred classic country anthem about lost love and the slow march of time, the breakout single became a number one hit by the fall and kick-started a country music career that would eventually include a Grand Ole Opry induction.
Black’s career is one of independent artistry. In a genre built on recording songs written by others, he chose to cut compositions he wrote himself or alongside other songwriters. And over the years, he hasn’t shied away from releasing music through his own label and channels to maintain creative control. “Black’s decades-long determination to write and perform his own songs … marked him as a maverick,” said Kyle Young, chief executive officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in a press release. “His voice, words and melodies have added immeasurably to country music’s rich history—etched on the hearts of millions.”
Like his fans, his talent and authenticity captivated fellow performers, and his career has been filled with plenty of collaborations, from partnering with Jimmy Buffett and Merle Haggard to Waylon Jennings and George Jones. He toured extensively with his own band throughout the 1990s thanks to the success of his “Killin’ Time” album and hit single, but a special tour in Africa became one of his favorite live-music memories, and one the Hall of Fame chose to include in their exhibit honoring the hard-working musician.
Entertaining Troops Overseas
While browsing “Clint Black: The Hard Way on Purpose,” viewers will find desert camouflage fatigues on display. In 1993, Black temporarily left Nashville and flew to Africa, where he did a tour throughout Somalia at American military base camps with the United Service Organizations (USO), playing shows for troops, offering entertainment and support.
His fatigues from the USO tour remain one of his most treasured personal items, which he lent to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for the showcase. “I wanted to do everything I could to support their efforts and share anything I could with the fans from my journey in music, movies, and life in general,” he said regarding his involvement in curating the exhibit.
After the ceremony for the exhibit’s debut at the Hall of Fame in April, Black announced the release of his memoir, titled “Killin’ Time: My Life and Music,” out on May 19. He also has new music in the works. But before he hit the road for book signings and returned to the studio, he took time to reflect on being included in one of country music’s hallowed institutions. “I feel so fortunate to have such an incredible team of talented people working so hard to bring my story to life in this exhibit,” he said. “I’m very excited to be a part of the greatest museum in the world.”
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