Clint Black Remembers Late Friend Jimmy Buffett

Clint Black, “There’s both joy and pain in reminiscing” the loss of Jimmy Buffett

Before achieving success, it’s a common practice for country music artists to share their sources of inspiration. These may be found in a particular song, the encouragement derived from the lyrics, or the artist’s character.  Clint Black did just that with performer and source of inspiration Jimmy Buffett. 

Black was a fan of various artists who made it to the charts, including the versatile songwriter Jimmy Buffett, whose hits spanned multiple genres. Later, when Black started his journey in country music, he was thrilled to learn Buffett was also interested in his own work.

In 1989, Black had the chance to open for Buffett at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. This marked the beginning of their decades-long friendship. Four years after that, Buffett co-wrote Black’s “Happiness Alone.” They then performed a rendition of Buffett’s 1978 hit “Come Monday.” Ten years later, Black was featured in Buffett’s track “Conky Tonkin.” Black also toured with Buffett in the summer of 1998. Then, in 2004, Black, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, and George Strait, joined Buffett for “Hey, Good Lookin’.”

Life has a way of bringing people together, as it did with Buffett and Black. However, it has proven it can be as harsh as good. Sadly, on September 1, 2023, Jimmy Buffett passed away at 76 after a four-year battle with Merkel cell skin cancer. The news of his death deeply saddened the music industry. Fans and fellow artists took to the internet to express their condolences and share cherished memories of their beloved friend, mentor, and musical genius. Black was one of the many people who shared his grief and their memories.

If I were to answer my own question, “when you get to Heaven, if you could sing a song with someone who’s already there…” today I’m sad to report, I know the answer. Rest in Peace on that golden beach my friend. We’ll miss you so badly. pic.twitter.com/K7uK3KMOEI

— Clint Black (@Clint_Black) September 3, 2023

In a recent People magazine article, he shared that listening to Buffett’s music can be difficult. He admits, “I can’t always do it. Sometimes it’s just too much. Just knowing he’s there, he’s still there, he’s still doing his thing, and we can still see him, it’s hard to think of him as gone [now]. So it’s not always easy to go back and listen to that music, and I got to be ready. I got to be ready to hold the line, and not let it bring me down too much.”

RELATED: New Jimmy Buffett Song Released Following His Death

“Reminiscing can bring both joy and pain. However, he left behind plenty of reminders of why we loved him as our King of the Parrot Heads,” stated Black. Below, Black reflects on the memories he made with Buffett and expresses his profound emotions about losing everyone’s beloved Mr. Margaritaville.