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Freedom Sings Trip...Bluebird Cafe Tickets...Garth Plays Sax

BILL BLOG

Tuesday June 17, 2025

 

Tuesday morning, and I’m ready to throw the guitar and suitcase into the car for a road trip to Heyworth, Illinois, this morning for a Freedom Sings USA songwriters retreat.

 

We’ll have 78 degrees high in Nashville today, while it will hit 86 in Heyworth.

 

YESTERDAY

I had an off day, so I used it to put new strings on a guitar and get prepared for the road trip Heyworth this morning. 


 

This is the second trip visiting the town of Heyworth to write with their local veterans. By now, I’ve done a lot of these trips, and they are always memorable. But this is the first time I received the name of my veteran that I’ll be writing with in advance.

 

This time I’ll be writing with Rev. Carl Johnston, who was called to service three times and was assigned to soldiers with PTSD.

 

He had an Uncle who died in France after the Normandy invasion. It’s going to be an honor to hear his complete story, and then write that into a song.



 

NEW SHOW DATE

I had a show scheduled to play at the Listening Room Café that was coming up in early July. That songwriter show with my friends Alex Miller, Ben Klick, and Sean McNamara has been moved to Tuesday evening, August 12, at 6 pm. This is a great room for songwriter shows…a big room… great food and drink menu. If you’re in town…come see us.

 


SONG OF THE DAY

I’m choosing “Don’t Let The Barn Door Hit Ya,” which was the first single release for my friend Alex Miller, whom I mentioned above. Written with Paul Bogart and Dan Wilson, producer Jerry Salley heard it, loved it, so did Alex, and they put it out on Billy Blue Records. Alex does this song at every show of his. It’s a very fun “swing” song with this great VIDEO that goes with it. 


 

THE BLUEBIRD CAFÉ

A reminder that tickets for the Bluebird Café show on June 25 that I’m hosting at 9 pm that evening with songwriters Jimmy Fortune, Brian White, and Wil Nance go on sale tomorrow morning. EVERY show at the Bluebird sells out almost instantly, so be quick on the dial if you’re thinking about coming. Here's the LINK with ticket info. 


 


 Why is the Bluebird Café such a big deal to songwriters and fans? Yesterday, I watched this terrific documentary about the famed Bluebird Café, and if you watch it, you’ll understand why it’s a huge deal. This LINK will take you there.

 

HEALTH NOTES

Various B12 gummy vitamin products have been recalled due to an undeclared peanut allergen.

 

Word is that Doctors can recognize diabetes with a simple eye exam these days.

 

New research shows that excessive work hours impact brain regions responsible for decision making, emotional regulation.

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN



Even if you are a certified witch.

 

SNAKES…BIG SNAKES

Biologists have removed 20 TONS of Burmese Python snakes in Florida. That’s a record season haul. 20 tons! I may not be moving to Florida anytime soon.

 

AC

In Tennessee, an article points out that the ideal temperature for our thermostats should be 78 degrees in the house. Uh...that’s a tad warm for me. Ours is at 75. What’s yours? 

 

Two of man’s greatest inventions. AC and indoor plumbing.  And it’s nice to feel “cool” when you have to use the indoor plumbing, if you know what I mean.

 

THEM AND US

College athletes are now getting paid. Some of them BIG time. Get this. South Carolina QB LaNoriss Sellers just turned down an 8 MILLION dollar offer to play college football for another team. 


 

Considering my own athletic prowess, I’m sure if I were in college, someone would offer me 8 million NOT to play.

 

JOKE

My ex-wife texted me, I wish you were here.” She does this every time she walks through a cemetery.

 

AIRLINES

Airlineratings.com just released its list of the best airlines internationally. Safety was a big part of their criteria.

 

Number one is HK Express. (I know…never heard of that one.)

 

2…Jetstar

3…Ryan Air

4…Easy Jet

5…Frontier

 

The worst?  That would be Air Baltic.

 

SHUT DOWN

That would be the Louvre Museum in Paris. Staffers are on strike protesting the size of the crowds. Too many people wanting to take a selfie with this gal, I guess.



 ADVICE

Readers of a publication were asked what they thought was the best piece of advice they’d ever received. I like this one.

 

You don’t have to show up to every argument you’re invited to.”

 

DID YOU KNOW?

That Garth Brooks played saxophone? I’d forgotten that until country star Dierks Bentley mentioned it in an interview. Check out Garth on the horn HERE


 

 

 TODAY’S HEADLINE

Star Wars Fan Says: “This Movie Would Be The Highlight Of My Life…If I Had One” (Yep…if you carry your light saber into a movie studio…you may need to find a life.)

 

TODAY

It’s off to Heyworth to write with veterans. We will have a meet and greet at the American Legion this evening with dinner. Then tomorrow morning, each songwriter writes with their veteran, and then we wrap it up with a free concert that night at the Legion. Last year, the room was absolutely packed. Looking forward to that happening again.

 

Have a great Tuesday!

 

 

 

 

 

 



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