Jon Pardi and Clint Black Bring Down the House with ‘Killin’ Time’ at CMA Fest

Fans absolutely loved this throwback performance!

By

Madeleine O’Connell

| Posted on

June 25, 2024

at

7:28 pm

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Jon Pardi and Clint Black perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 7 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville; Photo by Hunter Berry/CMA

Jon Pardi left his mark on this year’s CMA Fest when he surprised the crowd with special guest, Clint Black during his performance at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium. 

As soon as he stopped his set to speak to the audience for a moment, it became clear that he had something incredible in store. Many fans held up their phones and caught the moment the California native revealed that in just moments, a “legend” of the genre would be joining him on stage.  

“We all grew up with him…This is one of my heroes, a legend in country music,” Pardi said before welcoming Black to the stage. 

Jon Pardi and Clint Black perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 7 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville; Photo by Natasha Moustache/CMA
Jon Pardi and Clint Black perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 7 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville; Photo by Natasha Moustache/CMA

While both donning their signature looks topped off with a cowboy hat, the pair of beloved singer/songwriters began performing Black’s iconic tune, “Killin’ Time.” They strummed their guitars on stage as Black delivered the opening verse with his timeless, gritty vocals. Pardi then joined in on the chorus, causing fans to erupt in a massive sing-along.

The “Your Heart Or Mine” singer took over the next verse, pouring tremendous passion into his delivery of the narrative that stemmed from the idea of how slowly things were moving for Black at the time, to the point where it felt like it was taking an “eternity” to reach his goals. This idea turned into the perfect soundtrack for anyone out on a Friday night looking to receive some stress. Coincidentally, things seemed to pick up for the iconic artist when this song hit the airwaves.

“This killin’ time is killin’ me/ Drinking myself blind thinkin’ I won’t see/ Not if I cross that line and they bury me/ Well, I just might find I’ll be killin’ time for eternity,” the artists sing on the chorus. 

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This song was penned by Black with Hayden Nicholas and released in 1989 as the title track to his debut album. It eventually became a No. 1 single and earned him a GRAMMY nomination for Country Male Performance at the 1990 ceremony.

During his set, Pardi also performed a slew of fan favorites including  “Night Shift,” “Your Heart Or Mine,” “Heartache on the Dance Floor,” “Last Night Lonely,” “Dirt On My Boots,” and “Head Over Boots.”

Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde Co-Host CMA Fest on ABC; Photo by Robby Klein, ABC
Jelly Roll, Ashley McBryde Co-Host CMA Fest on ABC; Photo by Robby Klein, ABC

Hosted by Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde, CMA Fest on ABC also included performances by Kelsea Ballerini, Big & Rich, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Terri Clark, Jordan Davis, Jackson Dean, Billy F Gibbons, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Little Big Town, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ashley McBryde, Parker McCollum, Megan Moroney, Carly Pearce, Post Malone, Shaboozey, Blake Shelton, Brittney Spencer, The War And Treaty, Thomas Rhett, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, Lainey Wilson and Bailey Zimmerman. 

The three-hour concert special, dubbed “the Music Event of the Summer,” was filmed during CMA Fest in Nashville, which took place Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9, 2024. 

CMA Fest 2025 is scheduled for Thursday, June 5 to Sunday, June 8 in Nashville. Four-day passes are available for purchase now. For more details, visit the official CMA Fest website.

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Madeleine O’Connell graduated from North Central College with a bachelors degree in Journalism and Broadcast Communications before deciding to pursue her studies further at DePaul University. There, she earned her masters degree in Digital Communication & Media Arts. O’Connell served as a freelance writer for over two years while also interning with the Academy of Country Music, SiriusXM and Circle Media and assisting with Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast. In addition to Country Now, she has been published in American Songwriter, Music Mayhem, and Holler.Country. Madeleine O’Connell is a member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.