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Trio Writing...Nuggets...Venice

BILL BLOG

Wednesday February 12, 2025

 

Wednesday the old “Hump Day” has rolled around. A high of 44 today in Nashville with more rain on the way today and tomorrow. We’re getting a pretty good soaking.

 

YESTERDAY

I had the pleasure of rhyming with two of my favorite folks in this creative town, Jimmy Fortune and Sydni Perry. Jimmy and I are honorary Godfathers of Sydni’s oldest boy Milo so it was great seeing her in the writing room again and catching up on her life. She’s been singing background vocals and playing Carrie Underwood now for 10 years!  


 

 

A little over 10 years ago she told me the job with Carrie was down to her and one other girl and asked me to say a little prayer for her. She’s so good so I was not surprised when she shared the happy news that she had gotten the job. And now she’s been all over the world playing music with Carrie. It could not have happened to a nicer person.


And Jimmy Fortune the tenor singer for the Statler Brothers all those years just finished up a book, CD, and streaming show for the Gaither Family that will be released soon. Can’t wait to hear that.


 

 

And yesterday Jimmy found a cool groove on one of his MANY guitars that he collects and we found a title that worked for that groove and wrote a very fun commercial song. Truly a pleasure to spend time with those two. 


 

 

SONG OF THE DAY

Since I just wrote with Jimmy and Sydni I thought I’d share How Lucky Am I that the three of us wrote that Kristy Cox recorded on one of her albums that Kristy says might be her favorite song that she’s ever recorded. Jimmy is singing harmony with her on this recording.

 

This song was inspired by my second Mom Dean Raymer back in Missouri after seeing one of her granddaughters post this Winnie the Pooh picture.



 

I mentioned that picture when I gave the eulogy at Dean’s funeral and then shortly after I had a writing appointment with Jimmy and Sydni and told them about my friend and the picture. And the song came pouring out. It’s one of my favorite songs as well.

 

HEALTH NOTES

The CDC reports yet another new bird flu strain. This one was detected in a Nevada dairy worker.

 

Doctors are saying that alcohol-related transplants are on the rise among young adults.

 

Flu deaths outpace COVID deaths in 22 states for the first time since the COVID pandemic began.

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN



 

Yep. Pretty true ain’t it?

 

ONE MORE SUPER BOWL THING

My friend Randy Brooks who wrote “Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer” sent me this yesterday.



 

I’m waiting for my check as we speak. 

But to be fair...that Kendrick Lamar half-time show turned to be the most watched ever in Super Bowl history. So there's that.

 

VALENTINE

Aww…the perfect Valentine gift for my wife.



 

Nothing says love like a pan full of Chik fil A Nuggets. She’s SO gonna love me for this.

 

I tell this story on stage some when I’m with Linda Davis and Lang Scott and we get to talking about our marriages. My wife Kathy is a health nut. I don’t think the woman ever eats anything unhealthy. But there for a while she started eating Chik-fil-A A nuggets…grilled of course while I would eat the fried version.

 

So I’m out on a long road run with Linda and Lang with multiple dates in Texas and Arkansas. And that trip meant not being home for a big anniversary. So I called my daughter Heather and told her to pick up a special Valentine gift for my wife, put it in a gift bag with all that puffy paper and then calls me using Facetime as she was walking into the house. It was our 35th anniversary at the time. So my daughter calls while we’re on the road and we see her hand the bag to my wife who does look surprised and asks, “well, what is this?” She pulls the paper out of the gift bag, and in the bottom of the bag is 35 Chik-fil-A  nuggets. True story.

 

Guys,  you may want to pick up a pan of nuggets yourself this Valentine’s Day. You’ll thank me later.

 

SPEAKING OF VALENTINE

My young friend and co-writer Alex Miller posted this tease of a song yesterday on his socials that we wrote titled “Y O U”. You could easily call this a Valentine song. Check this TEASE out.



 

THIS GUY DOESN’T LIKE HIS JOB

Because he tweeted, “I don’t mind going to work, it’s the 8-hour wait to go home that I can’t stand.”

 

VENICE

Because of overcrowding Venice is charging tourists a fee to visit…especially during peak season. They just doubled the price so now it will cost you an extra 10 bucks or a little more to jump into a gondola and see the Venetian sites. Other countries that are overcrowded with tourists are looking to do the same. And if you don’t register early enough they will fine you up to $310.



 

I will say Venice is beautiful as witnessed from that picture my wife and I snapped when we were on a boat in the canal. But parts of it were REALLY crowded. Even with the fee it's worth seeing once in your lifetime for sure.



 

 

HEADLINE OF THE DAY

Overall Serious Crime Rate Down. But Arsons, Burglaries, Homicides Up. (Good to know)

 

 

TODAY
I get to do one of my favorite things ever. Sit in a dental chair. Sigh. I hate it every time.

 

Have a great Wednesday!

 

 

 

 

 

 


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