Killin’ Time: My Life and Music

by Clint Black

The long-awaited memoir from country music legend, Clint Black—a raw, intimate, and unflinching story that traces his rise from struggling songwriter to chart-topping superstar and enduring music legend.

Over twenty million records sold. Twenty-two number one career singles. 31 top ten singles. Nearly two dozen gold and platinum awards. Countless CMA and ACM awards. A Grammy Award. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. When it comes to modern music, few artists have had a bigger or more lasting impact than Clint Black. Since bursting onto the country music scene in 1989 with Killin’ Time—the triple-platinum debut that delivered five consecutive number one singles—Black has built a genre-defining career spanning nearly four decades. Having written the soundtrack of a generation, Clint now puts pen to paper to write, for the first time, the story of the man behind the music.

In his long-awaited memoir, Black shares the unfiltered, extraordinary account of his journey from a kid with a dream on the outskirts of Houston to a country music legend. From his near-death experiences as a young boy, to his decision to drop out of high school to pursue music, to countless years struggling as an unknown young artist, playing at any nightclub or hotel bar that would have him, Black’s path to success had more twists than the Texas two-step.

Once fame hit and the stakes got higher, Black didn’t let the pressure of big crowds, big money, or big labels steer him off course. By writing from the heart and sticking to his guns, he built a legacy on his own terms. These values proved to be Black’s north star navigating superstardom, including a difficult lawsuit against his ex-manager, Bill Ham; subsequently founding his own record label; recording with heroes such as Jimmy Buffett, Merle Haggard, and Eric Idle; his whirlwind romance and everlasting marriage with actress Lisa Hartman Black; and most recently, a critical issue with a cervical spine injury, which threatened the very thing that made him a his voice.

With vivid, deeply personal stories—all told with Black’s signature charm—he recounts how his steadfast dedication to his beliefs and his passion for music led him to success after success, and through storm after storm. For longtime fans and newcomers alike, Killin’ Time is a revelatory and rare glimpse of the iconic life and career of a once in a generation talent.

Killin' Time includes a 16-page color photo insert.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Music

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 19, 2026

About the author

Clint Black is an American singer, songwriter, musician, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and actor. Black was raised in Katy, Texas. He is married to actress Lisa Hartman. They have one daughter born in 2002.

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid musician’s memoir. I know Clint Black’s music, but I didn't know anything about his background. It is not surprising that a gifted songwriter is also a great storyteller. This book keeps the reader entertained. Each chapter is the title of a Clint Black song with a few lines of lyrics. The early chapters about his childhood and his pre-Nashville music career as a struggling artist are the highlights of this well-written book. This book obviously will appeal to Clint Black fans but also music fans in general who enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the music industry.

[Glen Asbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I flew through this book by one of my favorite country singers. Clint writes like he talks…low-key, warm, funny and informative. Very easy read, and also fascinating story.

[Melissa Coffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, mostly about his music career. He does speak some about his childhood and later about Lisa and Lily Pearl. It’s got some good stories sprinkled throughout the book. I didn’t realize how many number one hits he has. He does a good job reading the audiobook.

[Jeff Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve listened to Clint Black since I was a child and have loved learning more about his life and career. The book was well written with not too many boring parts. I find it interesting how frequently Clint entered business agreements with people that he later viewed so poorly. I also got the sense that he enjoys being a celebrity but doesn’t seem to care about being around fans. I don’t know if I blame him because privacy helps him keep a level head.

[Lerrise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Killin' Time is a story written and narrated by a gentleman musician, Clint Black. I'm not familiar with Black's music, but do love celebrity autobiographies. This one stands out for taking the high road while telling the truth about the difficulties of being within, and surviving, the music business. The author never resorts or relies upon foul language, gossip, or needlessly trashing anyone's character to tell his story. I also suspect that because Clint Black is a gentleman and doesn't gossip, this accounts for the book being a relatively short and quick read (or listen). A must read for his fans.

[DeWayne Neel · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a joy to read about the life of Clint, a life lived with standards not usually found in the music business. As with most in the business, he paid his dues on the way to one of the best. He had standards for his music, writing his own, as well as the standards of those who worked with him. His commitment to family is to be commended. A very relaxing read, with much detail of the workings of the music industry.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook. Narrated by the author, which was very good. I was never a big fan of Clint’s music. I didn’t dislike it. It just was never one of my favorites. However, this book was very good. It was very short and sweet. You can tell he’s very devoted husband and father. You can also tell that he truly loves being a musician and artist. It was very interesting to hear a little bit about his childhood and some of the ups and downs in his musical career.

[Shelia Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

If you're a Clint Black fan this book gives you just what you would expect. Down to earth honest account of his life. I enjoyed reading it and better understanding his rise to fame and struggles along the way. He was "A Better Man".

[Liz Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book about country superstar Clint Black. Very detailed about his childhood and how he became a songwriter and singer. Surprised to learn he didn't finish high school. Really good book, totally recommend.

[Sandra Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story! Loved reading Clint’s story of his rise to stardom! I couldn’t put it down!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasant read! A celebrity who is hard working, has morals and ethics, and doesn't take himself too seriously - how refreshing.

[Tonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! Huge fan! His struggles with his singing career to family life. Highly recommend especially if you're a country music fan. Well written.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great on audio!

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

His songs are great storytelling and turns out his life is, too.