BILL BLOG
Wednesday June 18, 2025
Good morning from Heyworth, Illinois. We have a 74 degree high on tap here today with some rain mixed with the sun.
YESTERDAY
Myself and 4 other Nashville songwriters made the trip from Nashville up to Heyworth for our Freedom Sings USA retreat here where today we will write some veteran stories into songs.
You know you’re in central Illinois when you roll past these bad boys.
This is our second trip to Heyworth, which is just 10 minutes away from Bloomington, Illinois. The event is held at the local American Legion Hall, where they treated me, Bobby Tomberlin, Steve Dean & Bill DiLuigi to a great dinner. And then the 4 of us played music for those gathered before we came back to the hotel to rest up for today.
Small town, great folks who are proud of their town, and patriotic.
LUCKY
One of the founders of Freedom Sings USA is Don Goodman, who is also a hit writer himself. He penned “Ole Red” for Blake Shelton, and “Angels Among Us" for Alabama, to name a couple. Don had angels with him yesterday.
Don drove up to Heyworth the night before, and just after we arrived at our hotel, came word that Don had been in a car accident and was in the Bloomington Hospital. And on the way to the American Legion Post, we saw his car on a hauler, and it was totaled. A truck pulling a trailer hit Don, and it flipped his car upside down. You can imagine the concern. Turns out he walked out of the hospital a few hours later, seems fine, and it looks like he’ll be with us today to write songs with veterans. A very lucky man indeed. And we are all so grateful for that.
GOOD MUSIC NEWS
Yesterday, my publishing company called to say “congrats” as two gospel-bluegrass songs that I co-wrote made it into the next round of the IBMA (International Bluegrass Awards Association) ballot.
“God Never Made A Mountain,” which Kristy Cox recorded. Co-written with Josh Shilling and Andrea Pearson.
And “Blue Collar Gospel” recorded by Jerry Salley and the Oak Ridge Boys, which was co-written with Jerry and Rick Lang.
Cause for celebration. It’s surely nice to see these two songs receiving this kind of recognition.
BLUEBIRD SHOW
A reminder that tickets are on sale this morning for my Bluebird Café show one week from tonight with songwriters Jimmy Fortune, Brian White, and Wil Nance. And they are gone instantly. Here’s the LINK for more info. I hope to see some of you there for the 9 pm show that I’m very much looking forward to.
Just to get to hear Jimmy Fortune sing “Elizabeth” in a small, intimate environment like the Bluebird is worth the effort to snag a ticket or two.
SONG OF THE DAY
Today’s tune is a song that Jeannie Kendall recorded. Jeannie was part of the hit duo the “Kendalls” back in the day with her Father, Royce. “I Love That Look On Your Face” is a song I wrote with Jimmy Fortune and Sydni Perry. It’s fun, playful, and Jeannie nailed this song in the recording studio.
HEALTH NOTES
An 80-year-old man in Florida, Bob Schwartz, just held a plank for 50 minutes! That’s 100 times longer than the recommendation for that age. (My elbows hurt just thinking about it.)
Appendix cancer is rising among young people. Researchers are investigating environmental factors as a possible cause.
A doctor says that to stay healthy when you’re taking a trip that you should take zinc and Vitamin C supplements before you board a flight or step into crowded terminals or packed trains.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Uh…keep your suggestions to yourself.
NOT SOMETHING ONE SEES EVERY DAY
An 80-year-old man drove down the Spanish Steps in Rome, and his car got stuck. A Mercedes no less. The man tested negative for alcohol and has no clue how he got there. Firefighters had to use a crane to lift the car off the steps. That gives new meaning to the phrase, “when in Rome,” doesn’t it?
My wife and I sat on the Spanish Steps once. Thank God, there was no traffic that day.
MAKING BABIES
Actor Kelsey Grammer is 70. And he’s still making babies. He and his wife, Kayte Walsh are expecting an 8th child for Kelsey.
I’m not sure whether I admire that or if I just feel tired thinking about it.
CHRISTMAS
If my wife is reading this blog, I just found what I’d like for Christmas.
This new Corvette will go from 0-60 mph in just two seconds! And it’s available for just $123,000. A bargain!
SPEAKING OF SPEED
Jeff Gordon says that he’s talked to Tom Cruise and that he will be making a “Days of Thunder” movie sequel. If you like NASCAR and or Tom Cruise? Well, that’s pretty exciting news. Count me in for this one.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Scientists Left Stunned After Discovering Man Who Lived A Normal Life With 90% Of His Brain Missing. (Not sure which politician this is…I’m checking.)
TODAY
It’s back to the American Legion for breakfast this morning, and then I’ll sit down with a veteran who was a chaplain in the armed services and write his story into a song that I’ll perform at 7 pm tonight at a free concert, along with all of the other songs written today. Last year, it seemed as if the entire town turned out to honor their hometown heroes. We’re expecting the same tonight.
Have a great Wednesday!
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