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A "Mom" Song...Rosebud...Dolly Said It

BILL BLOG

Friday July 18, 2025 

 

Hello Friday. Hello weekend!

 

92 hot degrees in Nashville today with some more pop-up rain showers and thunder. A pattern we’ve had for several days now.

 

Meanwhile, a tropical storm is going to bring a lot of rain and flooding down on the Gulf Coast, all the way from Florida to Texas.  

 

YESTERDAY

I helped my friend Jenny Tolman write a song about her Mom alongside Jenny’s talented producer-writer-instrumentalist husband, Dave Brainard.  And we had some extra help from their young boy “Bear,” who is growing way too fast.



 I know Jenny’s parents some. Her Father, Steve, has been in the country music business for a long time. He had a terrific group when he was young that came close to being a big-time hit. He worked and knew Burt Reynolds, as Steve played at Burt’s old Playhouse down in Florida. These days, Steve is booking acts all over the country. And my favorite thing I’ve found out about her Dad is that when he was young, he was part of the “Hoop Dee Doo” show at Disney World, which I’ve seen multiple times and loved. He and his wife, Kathy, are a big part of Jenny’s career.



 

I didn’t know quite as much about Jenny’s Mom. Until yesterday, when we wrote a song about her Mom titled “California Girl”. I had no idea her Mom lived on the California coast, so I feel honored that Jenny would allow me to help her write a song about her Mom. All of us will learn more about Jenny, her Dad, and her mom when she appears on “The Road” talent competition this Fall on CBS. I’m rooting for her and them, big time.



 

SONG OF THE DAY

Let’s make it a Jenny Tolman song. This one is came from a fun idea I had that Jenny and I and her hubby Dave wrote, “If You Can’t Stand The Heat” (get out of my kitchen). And guess where we wrote this song?  Uh huh, In their kitchen. 


 

 

HEALTH NOTES

Researchers claim they have a new AI tool that can detect hidden heart disease 77% of the time, outsmarting doctors.

 

Consumers who buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace will likely face double-digit rate hikes next year.

 

A new study claims that Rosemary scent boosts memory by over 200 percent.

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN



And honest admission if I’ve ever read one!

 

MORE AUCTION STUFF

The whip that Harrison Ford used in all those Indiana Jones movies sold for $525,000 at auction yesterday. I thought it might go for more.



Meanwhile, the sled “Rosebud” from the Orson Welles’ iconic movie “Citizen Kane”, sold for a whopping 14.75 MILLION dollars.



 

I watched Citizen Kane one time, mostly because so many critics pick it as one of the best films ever made. I didn’t quite get it. But I’ve watched the Indiana Jones movies multiple times. I would have bought the whip myself.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

That when Dolly Parton first came to Nashville, right out of High School, that she was so broke she would walk into hotels and eat leftover room service. She had no phone, no car, and she was hungry. I’d say that’s changed a bit.

 

Dolly once said, “You’ll never do a whole lot unless you’re brave enough to try.” She was brave enough".

 

Dolly also said, “I was the first woman to burn my bra…it took the fire department four days to put it out”. That could also be true.

 

ROBOT COYOTE

Some airfields are employing “robot” coyotes to help keep birds and other wildlife away, including deer that can wander onto a runway and create dangerous situations for planes and their crews. They go for about $3,000 apiece. Well worth the money if they save lives and aircraft.



 HOT CARS

Yep…it’s hot enough now that a steering wheel can melt your hands when you grab it after it’s been sitting in the sun for a while. Some folks buy a car window shade to help keep that from happening. I’ve not yet bought one, but if I do, I think I’ll choose this one for my car window.



Doh!

 

HEADLINE OF THE DAY

Group Stumbles Upon Sasquatch Looking For Lost Camper In Arizona. (Hmm…I saw one too last weekend back home in Missouri.)



 

TODAY

I’m back writing with Caroline Owens today and my publishing company, and hit writer Byron Hill.

Caroline's new single release that will be out in a couple of weeks is a song I wrote with my talented Canadian friend Andrea Pearson. Caroline is putting up some fun "teases" about the new song...like this little VIDEO


 

 

Byron Hill  has written big hits like “Fool Hearted Memory” for George Strait.



 

And then it’s the weekend!  Hope you have a great one.

 

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