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ACM Awards Show...Frank Brown Songwriters Festival...Mother's Day Weekend

BILL BLOG

Friday May 9, 2025 


Here we go sneaking into a weekend. It’s Friday. Just 71 for the high today in Nashville.

 

YESTERDAY

My Thursday morning started online writing a new up-tempo bluegrass song with Troy Engle in Pennsylvania. Troy plays every instrument that has strings on it, sings, writes, produces…not much he can’t do musically. When he lived in Nashville, he hung out a lot with Tom T Hall, played on numerous recording sessions, and was out on the road playing some instrument with the likes of Eric Church, The Isaacs and a long list of country stars.

 

But several years ago, Troy moved back to PA with his family and plays some shows up there with his family band, but still does a lot of recording work from home. He told me yesterday that his daughter may enroll at a University in Nashville next year and that might bring him back to Music City. It would be great to have him here and get to work him in person more.


 

 

LAST NIGHT

I watched the ACM Awards last night on Prime and posted some thoughts and commentary on my new fan page on Facebook that you can find HERE. Hit that “follow” button on that page if you will.

 

Last night was a big night for the girls of country music with Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson both hauling off multiple awards. Lainey walked away with the “Entertainer of the Year”.



 

There were several good performances. Chris Stapleton who won Male Vocalist of the Year sang “It Takes A Woman” which my friend Jerry Salley helped Chris write. I gave out a “whoop” from the couch for that and then texted congrats to Jerry who sent back a “?”. He had no idea and he wasn’t watching the show. I told him that he’d be buying from now on. 

Jerry Salley is responsible for me having my publishing deal that I just re-upped for another three years.  This is him pictured to my left along with my publisher Joe Dan Cornett on my right. 



 

 I also loved young Zach Top having a moment where it was just him and his guitar singing his new single “Use Me”. The future of country music is in good hands with this young man.



 Lee Ann Rimes delivered a stunning version of her firsthit that came out when she was a young girl “Blue”, complete with strings attached.

 

Ronnie Dunn reminded us what a great singer he still is. There was love in the room for Alan Jackson as he sang and received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Alan is battling Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which affects his ability to move along with balance issues.


 

And the song "Trailblazer" performed by Reba, Lainey and Miranda was a pretty cool moment. 


 


 

All in all, a pretty entertaining Awards Show last night on Prime.

 

SONG OF THE DAY

Since I bragged earlier about Troy Engle earlie in this Blog,  I’m going to share a song Troy recorded that we wrote together that’s on his current album. This one is a gospel-bluegrass song titled “Never Too Lost”. 


 


 TO THE BEACH

The official invite to play the Frank Brown Songwriters Festival down in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, and Perdido Key came in yesterday. This year I’ll be down there from November 6-11. I always look forward to playing this great festival.



 

I’ll be down there with “Hits & Grins” again, but I’m sure they will schedule a show with my buddy Brent Burns, and on Veteran’s Day I’ll be doing a show with Freedom Sings USA where me and a group of songwriters will be performing songs we’ve written with veterans in that area.



 

I can’t even remember how many Frank Brown’s I’ve played now…but a lot. A whole lot. Take a little beach vacation in November and come join us. 

 

 

 HEALTH NOTES

A scientific study claims that the secret to a long life is how connected you are to other people, and the warmth of those connections to other people.

 

Here’s a new term for you. “Medical gaslighting”. When a Doctor ignothe res pain systems you're having and downplays it…medical gaslighting.

 

A report claims Americans are having trouble staying healthy because of the rising cost of healthier food.

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN



 

There are just WAY too many things wrong with that sign for me to start saying anything here.

 

MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you lucky enough to still have yours. Call her up and tell her how much you love her. Spoil her for goodness sake. They won’t always be with you.

 

This was my Mom.



 

Madge Lucille Dunbar Whyte.  She died in a car accident when she was way too young. She certainly was influential when it comes to finding my love of music. She played piano in our church and sang. And our family sang gospel songs with her.

 

Years ago my sister Vickie gifted me with her old piano stool. I sit on it now and then when I write songs.



 

My daughter Heather has gotten into designing clothes and sewing. This is a dress she made recently. 



 

 

My Mom did that on this old machine that my other sister Rita gave me when she discovered my daughter’s talent for sewing as well.



 Both bring back nothing but great memories of her.

 

THERE’S WHITE SMOKE IN THE AIR



 

At least at Bucc-ee’s. Quite the Enclave they have working there.

 

GIVE IT AWAY

Bill Gates is saying he will be giving away all of his money sooner rather than later. That would be 200 BILLION dollars.  Wow. I sent him my Venmo account info yesterday. Here’s hoping.

 DUCK DYNASTY

For fans of that show, and I’m one, there’s good news. They are rebooting the show come June 1 on A&E. 



 If you like camo, you’ll love this show.

 

RED SOLO BUGLE

This is pretty cool. Toby Keith’s horse got to run in the Kentucky Derby this year. Of course Toby was not there to see it, but it was cool to see his horse make the field. Even cooler was this race track bugler in Texas who paid tribute to Toby and his horse, Render Judgement by adding some of Toby’s hit “Red Solo Cup” into the “Call To Post.”. Check THIS out.

 

HEADLINE OF THE DAY

Man Shocked to Discover Source of Headaches for 5 Months is Pair of Chopsticks Inside His Skull. (That happens to me every time I eat at Benihana’s)

 

TODAY

I’ve got an open day. Our Nashville Sounds are playing in town tonight so I’ll see me hollering at an umpire later this evening.



 

Happy Mother's Day weekend to you all.


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