BILL BLOG
Wednesday September 17, 2025
Wednesday morning, and I’m about to hit the road to Chattanooga. More on that at the end of today’s Blog. A high of 90 in Nashville today.
YESTERDAY
I scratched a few things off the “honey-do” list yesterday and got packed for the trip south today. Yes, it was a very quiet Tuesday around the Whyte House.
I did chat with my friend Brent Burns down in Gulf Shores, who continues to rehab from back surgery, but is making progress. Brent was at work yesterday putting together songwriters for the showcase he does every year during the Parrot Head gathering called MOTM, which is coming up in a few weeks.
For 4 or 5 days, Brent will play host to some great Trop Rock artists and writers at Lulu’s, and it looks like I’ll be doing two appearances there with him this time around. We will also play at one of the “official” events at the festival this year. In all, I’ll be playing maybe five times, and I’ll be co-emceeing this huge Parrot Head event that takes place at the Hangout in Gulf Shores. Second time doing so.
I’ll be listing the venues and start times for all those shows soon.
SONG TEASE
I love how creative artists can get when they are teasing new songs about to be released. This ONE is from my friend Laura Leigh Jones, who is about to release a new bluegrass song that the two of us wrote. I can’t give away the title yet, that’s why they call it a tease. But click the link and listen, and you’ll get a small taste of the song that will be released in a few days.
SONG OF THE DAY
Speaking of tropical, this is a song I wrote with the duo Adam and Amy Pope that was written about our love for the ocean, and in particular, Gulf Shores, Alabama. The song is titled “Alabama Coast”. This might make you want to pack a couple of bags and head there yourself.
HEALTH NOTES
A new study suggests that high adherence to the Mediterranean diet can not only improve heart health and body composition but also reduce sarcopenia in older adults.
Research says that people who use cannabis are four times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than people who don’t use it.
Experts say that eating 2 ounces of almonds on a daily basis significantly lowers LDL cholesterol and improves gut health in adults with metabolic syndrome.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
For the record, I didn’t call. Tempted, but didn’t.
A PASSIONATE SPEECH
I’m not one to dive into politics. Too hateful for me. And it’s gotten worse, it seems. Country singer Cody Johnson unloaded on that at his concert this week in Nebraska.
Here’s what he said on stage before singing God Bless America with the crowd.
I’ll say this, the week and the day, and the year, all that, that Dr. Martin Luther King got shot was one of the worst days in American history. And I think this week we’ve seen another day like that. I’m going to tell you right now, I’m not doing division anymore. I’ll always stand on this stage and say, I believe in Jesus. I’ll always stand on this stage and I’ll will say the only reason we’re free in this country is because men and women gave their life. Do you know why it’s okay to disagree with each other in this country? This is what they try to tell you. ‘You don’t agree with him. So now y’all got to hate each other, or you don’t agree with her. And now we have to hate each other.’ Let me tell you something: the reason it’s okay to disagree with someone in this country and still love them anyway, no matter the circumstances, is because before most of us were born, an American soldier died for our freedom to disagree with each other.
THE SUNDANCE KID
I was sorry to hear that Robert Redford passed yesterday. I’m not sure if anyone lit up the screen more than he. And he made the kind of movies I continue to watch over and over. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, All The President’s Men, The Natural, A River Runs Through It, and on and on.
I did not know until this morning, after reading an article about him, that Redford was turned down for the role of Benjamin Braddock in the movie “The Graduate” because the director thought he was “too handsome” and would not be relatable in the role of a “loser”. When Redford objected, the director asked him if he had EVER lost the girl? Nope.
The role went to Dustin Hoffman.
UH…I DON’T WANT THIS
Tesla’s self-driving software is failing, according to some of its drivers, to recognize a train crossing. Despite the flashing lights and the arm being down across the road, it doesn’t want to stop, and some drivers are slamming on the brakes.
I think I’ll just drive myself a little while longer. Train big…car little.
SPEAKING OF DRIVING
Another indication of how big a city Nashville is becoming. A couple of days ago, over 14,000 folks were jammed up trying to get to our airport. So much so that some travelers got out of their cars, grabbed their suitcases, and took long hikes to the terminal in hopes of catching their flights on time. It’s the second time this has happened.
This time, it was because of NFL fans trying to get home, a bunch of conventions, and a surge in rideshares. Some of y’all need to stay home.
I’M COMPOSTING
New Jersey just became the 14th state to approve legalized human composting. Just like it sounds. If you want, your remains can be turned into compost, and you can wind up in a garden bed helping watermelons grow. I dunno. I just don’t see my daughter spreading her Dad in the garden bed. Call me crazy.
FIRINGS
Dabo Swinney, the head football coach for the Clemson Tigers football program, is off to a disappointing 0-2 start. Some fans, of course, want him fired. The coach replied by saying, “If you’re tired of winning, send me on my way”. That’s pretty good.
It reminds me of what my Hall of Fame radio brother Gary Burbank, did once when he was let go. He walked into his boss’s office and nailed a pair of shoes to his desk, and then said, “Fill those you bleep bleep bleep”. True story. I laugh every time I think about that.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Most Earthquake Damage Is Caused By Shaking. (I would have never suspected that)
TODAY
Off to Chattanooga for the big annual bluegrass festival in Chattanooga called IBMA. It will be my first time attending, and I’m betting I’ll see a bunch of banjos. Today, my record label, Billy Blue will hold a showcase of 5 artists, three of those artists and bands have recorded songs of mine. It will be kind of cool hearing some of those this afternoon. Then tomorrow night is the big awards show. More on that tomorrow.
Have a great Wednesday!
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