Friends Honored...Father's Day...Freedom Sings USA Trip

BILL BLOG

Monday June 16, 2025

 

Another Monday has rolled around. And it’s a packing day for me with a road trip tomorrow to Illinois. More on that at the end of today’s Blog.

 

We will hit 85 for a high today in Nashville.

 

Meanwhile, over the weekend, the National Weather Service issued the “first-ever” heat warning for Alaska.

 

THE WEEKEND

Friday morning, I wrote a new song with my friend Rick Lang, who was in town for a week’s worth of songwriting. Rick lives out in New Hampshire, but drives to Nashville at least once a month to write. He always brings great song ideas with him, and we wrote one of those Friday morning. 

His “Blue Collar Gospel” album, “Songs of Rick Lang” has done very well for Billy Blue Records. I was blessed to be a writer on the title track that was recorded by our friend Jerry Salley with the Oak Ridge Boys.

 

 And he’s working towards another full album project that will be kind of unique, and I’m hoping I’ll have a song or two on that project as well.

 

Rick also shared that he thinks another song we wrote together is going to be released as a gospel-bluegrass single very soon. More on that in today’s “Song of the Day”, coming up. It’s always fun writing with Mr. Lang.

 

FRIDAY EVENING

My wife and I were blessed to be invited to attend the “Influencing Women Award Gala” that was held at the Opryland Hotel in one of the big ballrooms.

 

Our dear friends Linda Davis and her daughter Hillary Scott, who is just a few weeks away from delivering a 4^th little girl into her family, were recognized and honored with the Jeannie Seeley Standing Ovation Award.

 And they did get a standing ovation.

 

Linda’s youngest daughter Riley Jean introduced them with a speech she wrote that was so moving. Her words were the highlight of the evening for me, as she spoke eloquently about her Mom and older sister.

 

I can’t think of two women with bigger hearts who give way more than they ever receive.

 My thanks to my friend and fellow songwriter Bobby Tomberlin, who is pictured in the cowboy hat in this picture, for the invitation. And seated next to him is actress Charlene Tilton…remember her?

 Charlene played Lucy Ewing on the hit TV soap opera series “Dallas”.

We had great table conversation as well on Friday evening, as Linda and Hillary were honored on stage.

 It was great seeing them being honored on stage. So deserved.

 FATHER’S DAY

I hope you have a great Father’s Day. I received a call from my daughter over in Germany to wish me a Happy Dad’s Day. Virtual hugs are what I call those. You certainly do miss your kids when they are that far away from home. But I’m thankful for the technology that allows us to see their faces and hear their voices on our phones and other electronic devices.

 AMERICAN DREAM

Over the weekend, my friend Katrina Burgoyne posted another fun video teasing the release of the song we wrote together, “Living The American Dream”. You can check that out HERE.

 

And she texted me to say the song will be released in full on June 27.

 SONG OF THE DAY

This is the Rick Lang song I mentioned earlier, “ChurchBells A- Ringin’,” that will be a new single release soon that the two of us co-wrote that landed on the Blue Collar Gospel album. Danny Paisley, who has been named the Bluegrass Male Vocalist of the Year more than once, is the singer on this song. Thank you, Danny, for such a masterful job.

 

HEALTH NOTES

Invasive Asian insects are spreading across 20 US states, causing hives, vomiting, and even death. Asian needle ants are the culprits.

 

A new study out of Taiwan found that beginning colorectal cancer screening at 40 can reduce cases by 21% and deaths by 39% compared to starting screening at 50.

 

Some Las Vegas hotels face lawsuits after travelers report severe bed bug injuries. 

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN

Who knew it was one-stop shopping? Sort of an SPF-Colgate kind of combo.

 

DANGED CICADAS

They are back…again. A bunch of them. Especially in Ohio, where one flew into a car, causing the driver to panic and flip his car!

Officials say the driver is fine, but the suspect flew the scene. (Of course he did.) Keep your windows rolled up for a while.

 

FUNNY LINE

This one from the late Groucho Marx, who once said, “Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.”

 

EXPENSIVE NASHVILLE

Mt. Juliet, Tennessee…one town over from where we live, is considering a 400% property tax increase!  Music City keeps growing well beyond the city limits. If passed, it would raise rates from 11 to 44 cents per $100 assessed value. It’s no longer cheap living the land of Hillbilly Music y’all.

 

TODAY’S HEADLINE

Shark Falls Out Of Sky On Unsuspecting Disc Golfers In South Carolina. (Some holes are just tougher than others)

 

TODAY

My writing appointment was cancelled this morning, so I've got the day to pack and get ready for a 6 -hour road trip tomorrow to Heyworth, Illinois for this great event with our veterans.

 

Have a great Monday!