BILL BLOG
Friday, June 26, 2026
Here comes the last weekend of June. It’s Friday, and we will hit a warm 87 degree high today in Nashville.
Hard to believe that next weekend will be the 4th of July weekend. I’m stocking up with sparklers already.
YESTERDAY
I had a great songwriting session at North Chapel Music with artist Spencer Hatcher, his younger brother Connor, and my friend Steve Dean. We spent a little time celebrating that Spencer’s new song “Hot Weather and Cold Beer” will be released July 3rd as his new summertime single, which the 4 of us wrote together.
And then we sat down and wrote a hardcore “country record that references the late great country artist Keith Whitley. Spencer is a big fan, so am I, so it was fun to chase that idea in the room yesterday. Spencer’s idea.
WHILE I WAS THERE
My old publisher, Joe Cornett, who is now the publisher at North Chapel, where Spencer and Connor write, gifted me this.
That’s Cincinnati Red pitcher Andrew Abbott, in bobblehead form. And there’s a little story.
I missed a trip to the Queen City a couple of weeks ago to see my Reds play a couple of games and had to cancel because I was down with that awful cold. One of the two games we had tickets for was Andrew Abbott bobblehead day. And Joe Dan, his Dad, and my friend Mark Bondurant, who were at the games, did me proud, and made sure they got home with one of these for my shelf.
Good to have good friends. Thanks, guys!
GOOD MUSIC NEWS
The soap opera “Young and Restless” used part of a song I wrote with Shay Watson and Joe Nash a few weeks ago on the show titled “Small Price to Pay.” Yesterday, we found out that the show wants to play the song on another episode of the soap, so they issued us a second license. Cool. You just never know where a song might land. I’m on a soap opera…go figure.
GREAT VIDEO
“Empty House” is a song I wrote with Stuie French that “The French Family Band” put on their just-released album.
It’s truly one of my favorite songs that I’ve ever been a part of. Heartbreaking country, and Camille, the Mom in this great family band, sings the heck out of the song. It’s been garnering a lot of positive comments, and seems to be the pick for the “best song” on the album by some who have reviewed it.
The group just released this GREAT VIDEO of them in the studio recording this song, “Empty House.” Pretty cool. Check it out.
SONG OF THE DAY
The new Payton Howie “rockin’ song “Truck Bed” was released last night from this young, and talented Texas singer. Payton came to town a few months ago specifically to write some songs with some Nashville songwriters. Her management team reached out to my friend Brady Seals about writing with her, and then Brady invited me to join them. We had a lot of fun getting to know her, a lot of laughs, and the song “Truck Bed” was written that day. Thanks so much for recording what is the “Song of the Day” today.
HEALTH NOTES
Some research is showing that popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic may be linked to a reduction in violent behavior.
Yet another coffee study reveals that coffee can improve gut health and cognition.
One more study. This study claims that calcium and vitamin D supplements provide “little to no benefit” for aging bones.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Should be a law.
EXPENSIVE APPLE
Apple just jacked up its prices for iPads and Mac computers by as much as $500. It’s blaming the price increase on a shortage of memory chips. Might be time to buy stock again in paper and pens.
FITNESS JOKE
Me: “I can’t see you anymore. I’m not going to let you hurt me again.”
Trainer: “It was only one sit-up.”
CHECKING IN
There’s a hotel on an island in China that’s about to open that will be entirely run by robots.
The receptionist? A robot. The maid? A robot. The person cooking your food? A robot.
Can’t imagine what kind of touch the masseuse will have.
BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS
I was sad to see that David Clayton, the long-time lead singer for “Blood Sweat and Tears,” passed at the age of 84. One of most distinctive voices ever. I bought this album when it came out, and I still have it.
“Spinning Wheel” was on that vinyl album, and I wore it out because I loved the sound of David Clayton Thomas’ singing voice in front of that band and their great horn section. RIP.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Oscar Wilde:
“The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.”
TODAY
I’m writing with my long-time “Hits & Grins” partner, Victoria Venier, today. Been a bit. Victoria has been busy as she heads up the Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival, which I have to miss this year, unfortunately. That’s coming up in mid-August. So even if we don’t write a masterpiece today? We’ll have fun just catching up.
Have a great weekend!
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