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Last Second Song...A Veteran Moment...ACM Coverage Tonight

BILL BLOG

Thursday May 8, 2025 


It’s Thursday morning and I’m on my first cup of coffee. A little more light rain is on tap today in Nashville and it will be a 75-degree high for today.

 

YESTERDAY

My Wednesday had an unexpected twist. My writing appointment had been cancelled because a co-writer got sick. I had the day open. But while I was out running errands my friend Wil Nance called to ask what I was doing. I told him I was on his side of town running an errand. He then told me our mutual friend Irene Kelley was going to be at his writing cabin that morning and invited me to join in. So with no guitar, and no computer, as I normally carry to writing sessions I drove over to Wil’s place and I’m surely glad I did as the three of us wrote a really cool and “catchy” song.



 

Wil’s brother Gary was at Wil’s house. Gary now lives in Gulf Shores, but was up visiting his Mom who now lives with Wil and his wife. And that was great because Gary played in my bass guitar and sang in my Missouri band a long while ago and I’d not seen him in quite a bit. Bonus to the bonus if you will.

 

It had also been some time since I’d written with Irene and that’s mostly because she recorded a great bluegrass album with her two daughters titled Women of Kelley. Great 3-part harmony!  Here’s one song off their album.



 

What was to be a pretty lazy day turned into a productive Wednesday. 

 

SONG OF THE DAY

Today I’m going with “If George Strait Starts Dancing” from Cledus T. Judd. After watching a CMA Awards show one year when they ran dancers out with Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack I sat down and wrote part of this song “If George Strait Starts Dancing, Somebody Shoot Me in The Head.”

 

I had a meeting the next day with a producer friend of mine Steve Ivey and took a copy of what I had written. I asked if he thought it was funny? He laughingly said yes and he asked if he could have a copy of that song, I brought with me?  I left it with him and the next morning he called and said I think I got your song cut. What?! Steve knew Cledus enough to walk it over to his office and leave that copy. Cledus listened, and he and his producer Chris Clark wrote the rest of that song and put it on his “Cledus Envy” album. It was my first major cut in Nashville. Thank you, Steve Ivey.



 

And since the ACM Awards are on tonight it seems appropriate to choose that song. And I hope there will be no dancers on the show tonight on Prime. I’ll be covering that in my own funny way tonight. More on that at the end of today’s Blog.

 

FREEDOM SINGS USA

I’ll be in Pensacola in a couple of weeks to write songs with veterans.



 

This year, the organization that pairs Nashville songwriters with those who have served has several retreats scheduled. And we will be returning to Marion, Illinois this summer. That return visit will happen September 4 and 5 of this year.

 

I’m bringing that up because yesterday this VIDEO popped up from last year when I sang a song inspired by the story of veteran Art Fager. He led a group of young men, 151 in total, in battle in Baghdad all from southern Illinois. He got back home with all but one young man who volunteered and lost his life. His song is titled “151”. The night I performed this song, the Gold Star Mom of the young man Sgt Brian Romines, was in attendance. It was a moment I’ll always remember.



 Please click on the video link above to get a real taste of what Freedom Sings USA is all about.

 

HEALTH NOTES

Some canned beans have been recalled in 23 states due to a potential life-threatening risk. Yellowstone Brown Sugar Molasses Baked beans are the culprit.

 

Researchers say they have developed a new “body clock” tool that calculates people’s biological age, and could even predict the risk of disability or death.

 

Tyson Foods says they will be eliminating synthetic dyes from ingredients by the end of May.

 

 HERE’S YOUR SIGN



 Well, somebody should be proud I suppose.

 

PLACES TO GO

TripAdvisor just listed the Top Destinations for 2025 in the US.

 

5…New Orleans

4…Florida Keys

3…Vegas

2…Oahu

 

And their top destination is New York City.

 

Nashville came in at #6 this year.

 

I’ve spent time in all 5 cities. I’m not a big New York guy, so it would be at the bottom of the five for me. And Oahu would be my #1 destination of those choices. Greenest place I’ve ever seen. We did the Pearl Harbor tour, saw Don Ho sing, my wife and I did a hula dance thing on the sand nobody needs to see that picture) and we loved our visittof toe Polynesian Cultural Center on the back side of the island.



 

What’s your Top 5?

 

HIGH TECH BEGGING



 

Or, you can probably Venmo if you’d like.

 

HIGH PRICE GAS

Some economists are predicting that gas could soar 75% in California. It could cost well over 8 bucks a gallon by next year. Yikes. 

 

That’s going to make my “Dipstick” song popular again if that happens.

 

HEADLINE OF THE DAY

Stealing this headline from the Babylon Bee.

 

Corporal Klinger Finally Discharged From The Army After Trans Military Ban. (He finally got his wish)


 

 

TODAY

I’ll be writing a new bluegrass tune with my friend Troy Engle up in Pennsylvania online this morning. Something good always seems to come out of these co-writes.


 

 

Then tonight I’ll be posting some commentary while watching the ACM Awards show hosted by Reba on Prime. If you’d like to follow along, got to my Facebook Fan Page at this LINK. And if you have not hit the “follow” button on that new page yet, please do so while you’re there if you would.


 

 

Have a great Thursday!


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