4th of July Shows...American Dream Song...Fishing With A Banjo

BILL BLOG

Thursday July 4, 2025 

 

And a Happy 4^th of July Thursday to you all. I’ve got a guitar and a bag packed for a trip to Missouri for two shows this 4^th of July weekend.

 

And it’s going to be 4^th of July warm with temps in the mid-90s. I need a pair of air-conditioned jeans for my outdoor shows!

 

YESTERDAY

It was a fairly quiet day at the Whyte House, outside of preparing for the road trip that I just mentioned. But I did quietly celebrate my wife Kathy’s birthday yesterday. I’ve been blessed to share a few with her.

 

I know, I know. I married way up.

 

And I happy that my wife is about to reap some rewards for her hard work writing her first ever book that is about to be released in just a couple or three short months and will be available worldwide. The best for her is yet to come.

 

SONG OF THE DAY

I posted this song a few days ago, but with it being the 4^th of July, it seems appropriate to make “Living The American Dream” the song of the day. This is from Katrina Burgoyne, Australian by birth, who is now truly living the American dream here with her husband and young daughter. I’m so glad she asked me to write this fun idea with her, which her husband Steve produced the heck out of. Here’s to all of us lucky enough to be living the “American Dream”.

 

UPCOMING

I’m a proud American. I feel lucky to have been born red, white, and blue. And I’m certainly proud of those who have served our country, allowing the rest of us to celebrate our freedom this weekend and every day of every year.

 

One of the biggest blessings in my life was given to me a few years ago when my friend Steve Dean brought me into Freedom Sings USA, the organization that sends Nashville songwriters out all over the country to sit down with our veterans, and write their stories into songs, and then honor them in concert performing those songs in front of family, friends, fellow veterans, and patriots. It has allowed me to say “thank you” to the men and women who serve uniquely.

 

We have a couple of retreats coming up in Illinois, with the first one being in Shiloh on August 1 and 2.

 

And then we’ll be in Marion, Illinois, September 5 and 6.

 

HEALTH NOTES

Add Kentucky to the list of states with measles, as they recorded their first case of it yesterday.

 

A vein specialist warns that we should not wear tight clothing on airplane flights, like skinny jeans or leggings. He warns that this type of tight clothing could seriously impact circulation. Sitting still for long periods of time, especially in a cramped airline seat, could put passengers at risk of blood clots.

 

More good news for us coffee drinkers. A series of recent scientific studies show that drinking lots of coffee can prevent heart disease and dementia and help you live longer.

 

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN

I’ll try to remember to take that to heart.

 

DISNEY HUGS

I’ve been to Disney World and Disneyland a bunch of times. I’ve gone when my daughter was young and watched her light up when she saw Mickey, or Minnie, or Pluto, or Goofy, and run to get a hug from them. Precious moments.

 

But I did not know until today that the Disney Park rule for their mascots is that they hug the child UNTIL the child lets go. So there are some long hugs from Mickey sometimes.

 

Walt Disney once said, “You never know how much that child may need that hug.” And they’ve taken that to heart. Kind of cool.

 

HENRY CHO

I love Henry Cho. The comedian who lives here in Tennessee and is now a member of the Grand Ole Opry always delivers funny lines…all of them clean. He’s been a guest on my radio shows when I was on the air a few times and he just killed. Heck of a nice guy as well

 

He was recently asked on stage by a fan if Henry was a truck or car guy.  He’s a big truck guy, and he admitted that he bought trucks for his boys. “Stick shifts” because he did not want them texting and driving. And “diesel” so that they couldn’t sneak away.

 

Pretty brilliant right there.

 

EXPENSIVE TOILETS

New York City has just added 5 new toilets in its city parks. Each one of these bad boys costs a million dollars. So they dropped 5 million.

 

I’m just going to say, if New York had installed the kind of toilets I grew up with, they would have saved the taxpayers a LOT of money.

 

I do not miss those. Two great inventions in my lifetime? Indoor plumbing and porcelain.

 

5 STRING FISHING

In the words of Jeff Foxworthy, “If you fish with a banjo, you might be a redneck.”. Watch this guy fishing with his banjo. He’s playing it, and then catches a fish! VIDEO. Somebody has way too much time on their hands.

 

TODAY’S HEADLINE

Survey Finds Fewer Deer After Hunt. (Man, I hate it when that happens!)

 

TODAY

Off to the Show Me State.

 

Tomorrow I’m at a big outdoor event called Liberty Fest in Louisiana, Missouri, which sits right on the Mississippi River. My show is at 11 AM there.

 

 

Then Sunday I’ll play from 2-4 pm on an outdoor patio at the Florida Resort and Winery in Stoutsville, Missouri. 

 

 

Hope to see some of you there.

 

Have a great 4^th of July weekend!