Clint Black, Lisa Hartman Black’s key to nearly 35 years together
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For Lisa Hartman Black and Clint Black, nearly 35 years of marriage began with a simple promise: When they said “I do,” they meant it.
The “Knots Landing” alum and the country music star are teaming up for a new Lifetime movie, “When I Said I Do,” inspired by their 1999 duet. The film tells the story of Ali Corley (Sarah Drew), a widowed K-9 search and rescue officer who rebuilds her life and finds love again after losing her husband in the line of duty.
The couple, who are executive producers of the film, also host a relationship podcast, making special appearances as themselves.
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Lifetime’s “When I Said I Do,” executive produced by Clint Black and his wife Lisa Hartman Black, will premiere on May 23 at 8 p.m. Ready to publish the next day. (Lifetime)
“Years ago, Clint wrote this song and asked me to sing it with him, and I was afraid to do it,” the actress told Fox News Digital. “Luckily, I gave in. And here we are today. We’ve had so much success, from chart success to awards to nominations to people getting married to it and couples renewing their wedding vows.” [to it]. “We’re honored to be a part of it.”
The country music power couple met backstage after one of Black’s concerts on New Year’s Eve 1990. They married on October 20, 1991, and welcomed their daughter, Lily Pearl Black, in 2001. Their love has continued for over thirty years.
Clint Black holds his daughter Lily backstage with his wife, Lisa Hartman Black, after a KIPP Rhythm and String Orchestra performance at Carnegie Hall to benefit New York’s KIPP Academy on December 4, 2002. (Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)
The 69-year-old woman said about the only secret of their marriage: “We believe in the importance of communication.” “It sounds so simple, but you really, really need to talk things through. Roy Rogers said to Clint: ‘A word of advice: Never go to bed angry.’ And this is true. You can’t just get in the car and drive away. If you can afford it, you should talk about it. “A lot of times you see this misinterpreted.”
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“Communication is important,” he emphasized. “Misinterpretation is unfortunately part of the deal. [But] can clean the air and [say]’Oh, that’s what you meant!’ And you know your partner’s heart. I know and he knows that we never want to hurt each other. He would never hurt me on purpose. But sometimes feelings get hurt. “If you can explain yourself, everything changes.”
“It’s actually communication,” Hartman Black insisted. “And she’s my friend. She’s my best friend. When you treat each other that way, you have to honor your friendship and trust and respect it. We somehow made it through and here we are almost 35 years later.”
Sarah Drew stars opposite Eric Johnson in the Lifetime movie “When I Said I Do.” (Lifetime)
The couple experienced personal heartbreak. In her upcoming memoir, “Killin’ Time: My Life and Music,” Black wrote that she and her husband suffered four pregnancy losses before welcoming their only child. people magazine reported. According to the press, they kept the losses secret to “keep hope alive”. The 64-year-old wrote that they “got through this together.”
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“In the early years, we basically knew we wanted to have kids,” Hartman Black said. “But [running] The joke was, we have dogs, we can put them in the backyard, we can go to the movies and we won’t go to jail. This is Clint’s joke.
“[But] When we decided to have children, we said, ‘No, we have to do this now.’ It couldn’t happen fast enough. And it was surprising that we both went to ‘baby time’.”
Lily Pearl Black, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black attend the “America Salutes You” 2023 concert at Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville on December 15, 2023. (Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
“When he was born, he took off the first three years,” Hartman Black recalled. “We were just parents for the first three years. Not everyone can do that, but it worked for us. Looking back, I’m so glad he was there. It was a special time.”
Hartman Black said her husband still gives her reasons every day to fall in love again.
Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black kiss at the CMA Music Festival, aired on August 3, 2022. (Mark Levine/Disney General Entertainment Content)
“People have asked me about his legacy and how I want people to remember him,” he said. “He’s a good, solid guy. What you see is what you get. … And that goes back to how we communicate. You don’t fight, you don’t yell. … We get along. And I think that’s underneath everything. And we laugh a lot, sometimes to tears. And that’s a very special thing that you have with your partner. We’re just there for each other. We feel so blessed, so lucky to have found each other.”
“And girl, we are a great little trio,” she enthused. “I thank God every day. He just turned 25. He inherited his father’s writing gene. He has an extraordinary voice. I wanted him to be a veterinarian. But no, he is incredibly talented.”
Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black have been married for 34 years. (Rick Diamond/Getty Images)
“It’s so much fun for the three of us to be together, whether it’s having dinner, watching a movie, or begrudgingly taking her shopping. These are simple little things, but we know how lucky we are. We’re lucky to be able to get here. We’re lucky because it was hard to get there, and we’re all great friends. It’s a beautiful thing.”
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Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black were married in October 1991. (CBS/Getty Images)
Remembering how she met her husband, Hartman Black said it felt like a movie, as if time had gradually slowed down and every sound around her had dissolved into a soft, distorted blur. They got married almost a year after their first dinner together.
“We met when we grew up, established our careers, and lived some life,” he explained. “… We were on a fast track and I guess that makes you grow up sometimes. I think we were mature enough and we knew what we wanted, we knew what was important [when it came to] values and morals – things like that. We were completely in sync. I think that’s what makes us faster.”
“When I Say I Do” was inspired by Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black’s 1999 duet. (Lifetime)
“We were very compatible and had great conversations,” he said. “He’s one of the funniest people you’ll ever meet. I’m funny too, but nothing like him. He’s truly amazing.”
Lisa Hartman Black has become a “Knots Landing” fan favorite, portraying both singer Ciji Dunne and her lookalike Cathy Geary. (Cliff Lipson/CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images)
Juggling fame and family, the couple remained loyal to each other and always gave each other the space to share their feelings.
“I think after all these years there are still a lot of things we do for each other,” Hartman Black said. “I think that’s why we’ve endured and that’s why we’re still together. Again, it’s communication. Talk about it.
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Lily Pearl Black, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black attend the world premiere of Lifetime’s “When I Said I Do” at the Franklin Theater on May 12, 2026 in Franklin, Tennessee. (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
“I know when to listen, and she does the same for me because we’re both pretty driven and high energy. She’s laid back in her own way, but she has a strong work ethic and a lot of motivation. I think it’s easier for me now to just step back and let her express herself or do whatever she needs to do.”
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Lily Pearl Black, Clint Black and Lisa Hartman Black perform during the “America Salutes You in Gratitude Concert 2023” at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts on December 15, 2023 in Nashville. (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)
“We always talk about things with us,” he said. “After all this time, you know each other inside and out. You pay attention to each other. You respect each other. You really get along.”
