BILL BLOG
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Wednesday morning, the last “Hump Day” of August. It’s warming back up in Nashville. Up to a 91 degree high today.
YESTERDAY
Was a sad day with the news that a true icon, Dolly Parton, had passed away at age 80. Turns out, Dolly was fighting a silent battle with cancer.
Is there anyone in this world who has a bad word to say about Dolly? I don’t think so. And isn’t that the measure of a great life?
Anyone who has been in country music long enough has a story to share about Dolly. The social network is full of wonderful posts right now, the best kind of use for the social network as far as I’m concerned. I too have stories about her. I was blessed to interview her a couple of times. Funny, quick on her feet, sharp as a tack.
I had the pleasure of playing at Dollywood three different times in one of her theatres. The crowds were great, except for this one time. Our “Hits & Grins” trio with Steve Dean, Victoria Venier, and me noticed the lack of a crowd at one of our shows. The reason? Dolly was riding in a parade that went right by our theater.
But my favorite memory of her was when I recorded my first album ever in Nashville at a recording studio that she and Porter Waggoner owned at the time, Fireside Studio. My little band was taking a break, and when I walked out of that studio that day, there she was in the narrow hallway. She lit up and told me how great it was sounding. And I remember she was wearing a red bandana scarf in her hair. And before she left, she made sure I had a stack of her and Porter’s albums…that I still have today.
I’ve read a lot of tributes about her. This opening paragraph in Saving Country Music might be my favorite words about her so far.
Congratulations. You lived in the time of Dolly Parton. An infinite gift from above. Not dissimilar to those that lived in the time of Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Mother Teresa, Willie Nelson, and Queen Elizabeth, your own time has overlapped with this transcendent entertainer, sage, poet, angel, and prophet that time will never forget, and likely fail to ever replicate, but hopefully never ceases to attempt to emulate.
I’d say “God bless Dolly”…but I think he did that long ago. And we were all blessed to have had her.
BRENT BURNS CRUISE
I mentioned yesterday that my friend Brent Burns has organized a land-cruise trip that he’s hosting that will take guests to Portugal and Spain. I got more details yesterday.
Brent’s trips are always a blast. I’ve been on a Rhine River Cruise with him, and we also toured Italy together.
You won’t be sorry if you go. Brent will be entertaining multiple times during the trip, and if he’s lucky enough to sell enough tickets, I may be tagging along with him. So sign up y’all!
BLAST ON THE BAY
Tickets went on sale yesterday for this great songwriter festival in beautiful Port St. Joe, Florida that runs from October 15-18. Such a great time every year, and I’m looking forward to being part of it again this year.
SONG OF THE DAY
Makes sense to choose this song, “I Love Dolly,” that I wrote with Becky Denton, my Missouri friend. The first time we ever wrote together, I asked her which artists she loved to listen to. Her immediate answer was “Dolly.” So we wrote “I Love Dolly,” which Becky recorded and released as a single. It’s a little more poignant today considering how many people are reminiscing about Dolly today.
HEALTH NOTES
Pennsylvania has confirmed two measles-related deaths—the first loss to measles in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
There’s evidence that shows that the weight-loss drug boom is reshaping the restaurant business as diners are moving toward alcohol free drinks.
Research suggests that high-dose vitamin D may boost brain health in older adults at risk of dementia.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
I’m not sure where you hire a complete staff.
THINGS TO DO
The publication Quartz just put together a list of the best “new” things to do in the world. Here are three that caught my attention.
1…See “The Hand & The Eye”: A new magic attraction in Chicago.
It looks to be much like the famed Magic Castle in Hollywood that I’ve been to. So…I could see checking out the one in the Windy City.
2…Drive Route 66. Yep. I’ve stayed in Williams, Arizona, a couple of times when I was singing on the Grand Canyon Railway, which runs right along Route 66. Worthwhile for sure.
And by all means, if you're in Williams, do ride the train to the Grand Canyon.
3…Dominica’s Whale Reserve, where you can visit the world’s first dedicated sperm whale reserve. Okay, I might pass on that one.
If you’re curious, here’s their entire LIST.
FUNNY AND TRUE
That would be this fake headline from Babylon Bee:
“Sad: Woman’s Mascara Not Smudged Enough While Filming Crying Selfie Video And Now She Has To Start All Over.”
HARD TO BELIEVE
That Labor Day is coming right up. I’m already trying to remind myself that I am not REQUIRED to buy another mattress.
You should do the same.
COW THIEF
How about the guy here in Smyrna, Tennessee, not far from Nashville, who was caught robbing a Vape store in a cow onesie?
Who knew that Holstein’s vaped!?
AND THEN THERE’S THIS
A Wisconsin cat was born with 29 toes!
I can’t imagine what the owner spends to get a pedicure for her cat.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Seems more than appropriate to select a quote from Dolly Parton today:
“If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.”
TODAY
I’ll be writing online today with Mark ‘Brink’ Brinkman, who has written a ton of bluegrass hits. It will be our second time writing together, and I’m hoping we can catch a little “Brink” magic today.
Have a great Wednesday!
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