Love, Music & Laughter: The Unscripted Story of Clint & Lisa Hartman Black
Dyersville, Iowa — It began not with a song, but with a joke. A sly jab, a tambourine, and a high school garage band. When Lisa Hartman Black sat down with her husband Clint Black for a special episode of Talking in Circles, the country star wasn’t just interviewing his wife—he was rediscovering her, one memory at a time.
The Girl With the Lead Tambourine
Born in Houston, Lisa Hartman knew early on that she belonged on stage. She honed her craft at Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts—majoring in acting, minoring in dance—and found herself fronting a band before she was even out of her teens. “We were disciplined,” she smiled. “Holiday Inns from 9 to 1 AM. I did the books, paid the band. We were serious.”
Her blend of ambition and artistry caught the attention of industry insiders. Soon, she was jetting off to Los Angeles, cutting tracks with the likes of David Foster and Lee Ritenour, and working under Jeff Barry and Don Kirshner—the hitmakers behind songs for Olivia Newton-John and The Archies.
From Studio to Screen
Though her music career blossomed, Hollywood had other plans. A spur-of-the-moment audition landed Lisa the lead in Tabitha, the spinoff of Bewitched. Soon after came roles on Fantasy Island, Love Boat, and eventually her breakout on Knots Landing. Her character, CG, was originally supposed to die after a few episodes. But Lisa’s charm proved irresistible—producers resurrected her as “Kathy Geary,” and she stayed for several seasons.
The industry adored her—but it was Clint Black, the stoic cowboy crooner, who won her heart.
A Love Story Written in Harmony
They first crossed paths backstage at Clint’s New Year’s Eve show in 1991. Lisa and her mother, TV producer Jonni Hartman, were visiting Houston. “I was sick as a dog,” Clint recalled, “and I’d never seen her on TV. But when I saw her eyes… I just knew.”
A few weeks later, Clint called Lisa during a short break from his tour. Their first date was at Gladstones in LA—a place that would later become sacred ground, where they celebrated their daughter Lily’s first birthday. Ten months and twenty days after meeting, Clint proposed in Salt Lake City. And Lisa said yes.
Through Storms and Spotlight
The couple’s chemistry is palpable, even through laughter. Lisa shares horror stories from storm-tossed cruises filming Love Boat, makeup room antics with Donna Mills, and freezing cold scenes on the shores of Knots Landing. Clint listens, teases, and occasionally stumbles over his own memories, but the love between them is never in doubt.
The Final Question
As their conversation drew to a close, Clint asked, “When you get to heaven, if you could sing with anyone who’s already there, who would it be?”
Lisa’s answer was immediate: her father, Howard Hartman.
“He sang ‘This Nearly Was Mine’ from South Pacific. And when he sang, ‘Now I’m alone, still dreaming of paradise,’ I’d cry every time. I’d sing that with him.”
And in that moment, the laughter faded into quiet reverence—two performers remembering where it all began: with family, music, and heart.