Luke Bryan Talks Clint Black’s Influence and His Goal To Stay in the Game Like George Strait
Bryan recalled spending countless hourless listening to a Clint Black hit.
Luke Bryan, Clint Black, George Strait; Photos Provided
Before Luke Bryan became a country music superstar with 31 No.1 hits, he was just a country-loving boy from Georgia, spending hours in his bedroom playing ‘80s and ‘90s country music on repeat.
According to Bryan, the song that truly made him fall in love with country music was Clint Black’s 1989 chart-topper, “Killin’ Time.”
During a recent interview with Bobby Bones on The BobbyCast, Bryan recalled the countless hours he spent listening to Clint Black on repeat.
“When ‘Killin’ Time’ came out, and then just that album… I went and bought that album. I had a CD player and these huge speakers and I’d just sit there and listen to it every day. Every day I would dedicate [to listening to] that album and just sitting there and listen to it and thumbing through Bassmaster magazines or whatever,” Bryan shared. “But that was a big one for me.”
The now five-time Entertainer of the Year admitted to being “so into” Top 40 country at the time and also recalled listening to Conway Twitty, Alabama, Ronnie Milsap, and more and how they shaped him as an artist.
While in college, Bryan listened to artists like Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney—both of whom he would later tour with, bringing his musical journey full circle.
When I think about college, and I think about what really shaped me, it was Tim McGraw, ‘Where The Green Grass Grows’ and it was Kenny Chesney ‘Back Where I Come From,’ and that’s what we were jamming and that’s what I was covering in my cover band.
Another country star who impacted Bryan was George Strait.
“I mean the George Strait song that really probably hit me the most was ‘Run,’” he said. “[He] drops ‘Run,’ and then he drops ‘Give It Away’ And those are giant.”
Luke Bryan said that at 48, his goal is to create a song that can compete with the new wave of artists—just like George Strait did at 52 with ‘Give It Away,’ which dominated country radio at the time.
“Like if I’m 48 and if I can figure out a song that at the end of the year through all the new artists coming out… George dropped two at 52 years old that still slayed the country music market. I mean when he put out ‘Give It Away,’ he owned the radio with that song and he talked in that song,” Bryan pointed out. “So that’s my job to try to attempt to do at the age of 48, in my opinion, if I’m going to stay in the game.”
Luke Bryan continues to “stay in the game” thanks to hits like his latest single, “Country Song Came On.” Written by Ryan Beaver, Dan Alley, and Neil Medley, Bryan said he immediately connected with the track because it reminded him of his early days playing music.
“’Country song came on’ is like a honky tonk gem for me,” he previously explained. “When I heard it, I was like, you know, it brings me back to the days when I was playing a lot of honky tonks early in my career.”
While he’s no longer playing honky tonks, Bryan continues to sell out massive tours. His upcoming summer trek, the Country Song Came On Tour, launches on May 29 and runs through August 30.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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