BILL BLOG
Wednesday November 12, 2025
Wednesday morning, bags are packed, ready to head home. One more peek at the sun coming up in Gulf Shores. 71 with sun as we depart for Nashville where the high will be 66 with sun. Not bad.
YESTERDAY
A day off for the most part, and the sun was shining. So I got a little sun lying out on the deck of the condo I’m staying in here for the Frank Brown Songwriters Festival. My thanks to all those who work so hard to make sure the songwriters are taken care of for this great music fiesta that I’ve been part of for more years than I can remember.
November is a month I always look forward to because of this great festival on the beach.
LUNCH
Steve Dean, Bill Diluigi, and I are housed in the same condo, and once again we had a little lunch at the Flora Bama, and got to visit with some of the staff and other songwriters who are here. And my buddy, and Purple Heart recipient, Brent Burns, joined us. Gave me a chance to say “thank you” for your service. The same applies to every veteran. Thank you.
VETERAN’S SHOW
What a great way to wrap up this year’s festival with our Veterans’ Day Songwriter Show that has become a tradition now over the past few years.
Last night, the beautiful Coastal Arts Center, which sits on the Bay, was the home for this show.
And…it was sold out…again! With folks that love music, patriots, and veterans, and families of Veterans. Steve Dean, Mutt Cooper, Bill DiLuigi, and I played a batch of regular songs, but each of us also performed two songs each that we have written with veterans at different Freedom Sings USA Retreats through the years.
I chose to sing “I Don’t Have Much of a Story to Tell,” written with my friend Larry Hudson, who served in Vietnam. He and his wife, Vickie, sat right in front of me when I performed his song.
And I also sang “151” written with Art Fager in Marion, Illinois, who was a Captain in the Army, took 151 young men from Southern Illinois to Iraq for one year, and got back with all but 1 of those boys, Sgt Brian Romines, whose name Art wears on a metal bracelet that never leaves his wrist.
Truly a memorable evening filled with some laughs, some tears, loud applause, especially for our Veterans.
NEXT SHOW
That would be Friday evening, November 21. I’ll be at Reba’s old place, Starstruck Farms in Lebanon, Tennessee, with “Hits & Grins” alongside Steve Dean and Victoria Venier.
This is a dinner show inside the “Grand Ole Barn”. Very cool venue, and this will be our third time there. Complete info about this show is HERE. We might even do a Christmas song or two!
SONG OF THE DAY
Since I am heading home to Nashville today, I’m selecting a “Home” song for the Song of the Day. This is “Back Home,” which my friend Troy Engle and I wrote, which was a single for him. Since we wrote this, Troy, who is a tremendous musician and plays several instruments, was hired by Ricky Skaggs, his musical hero, and he’s out there performing with Ricky all over the country. Could not be happier for my talented friend.
LITTLE EXCITED
My friend Caroline Owens, got a little excited in her car, listening to “Telluride” being played on Sirius-XM for the first time. I’ve loved this song since the day I wrote it with Andrea Pearson. So thankful that Caroline fell in love with it and recorded the song, and that it’s not starting to get a lot of play. Congrats Caroline!
HEALTH NOTES
Whooping cough cases have skyrocketed in Texas, quadrupling the numbers from the previous year.
More on coffee. A new study suggests that a cup of coffee a day may protect against AFib, a common heart health issue.
ByHeart has recalled it’s infant formula sold nationwide due to serious health risks.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Can I get an amen boys?
CHIKEN
Chik-fil-A is testing two new chicken and waffle sandwiches.
Yep…chicken between a couple of waffles. Chicken and waffles are popular in the South. Why? I’ve never figured that one out. But I may have to try one.
And do you pour syrup on this sandwich?
FUNNY
TODAY’S QUOTE
From old Albert Einstein:
“Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”
Pretty sure that’s correct.
TODAY
Headed back home…to my wife, and my own bed. I’ve had quite the road run over the past few months. From Marion, Illinois, to Huntsville, Alabama, to Port St. Joe, Florida, to Gulf Shores, to North Carolina, to Georgia, and back to Gulf Shores. I feel like I’ve been living that song “I’ve Been Everywhere”. And it’s been fun…but I’m ready for a stretch of being back home, and that will start tomorrow.
Have a great Wednesday!
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