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Award Show Voting...Blast on the Bay...Uncle Walter

BILL BLOG

Monday July 14, 2025

 

Monday morning has rolled around again. We will hit a 91-degree high today in Nashville, and we’ll have some light rain.

 

THE WEEKEND

I had an uneventful weekend, but part of it was taken up tweaking a song that I started last week with co-writers Brady Seals and Lauren Mascitti. Time well spent, as the song is better.

 

I also took some time to cast my early ballot vote for the CMA Awards that will be held in October. I’m a lifetime member of the Country Music Association, which was something that is given to anyone who wins a CMA Award. I’m blessed to have one of those silver trophies on my shelf.


 


 And speaking of awards. The Top 5 nominations in each category for the Bluegrass Awards will be announced this Wednesday morning. I’ve got fingers crossed, hoping I might get lucky and see one of my songs on that final ballot. 


 

 

BLAST ON THE BAY

I did get word over the weekend that I’ll be back performing this year at the “Blast on the Bay” Songwriter Festival in beautiful Port St. Joe, Florida.



 

Our “Hits & Grins” trio with me, Victoria Venier, and Steve Dean will be playing at least one songwriter round together. Venues and start times for all the shows will be announced later.


 




This is the 15th annual event at Port. St. Joe. I think this will be the 13th one that I’ve been part of, and it’s truly one of my favorite songwriter festivals that I get to do. And after missing it last year because I was already booked, I’m looking very forward to returning for the event that runs October 16-19.



 

SONG OF THE DAY

Since I’m writing with Alex Miller later this morning, I’m going to make “More Country Than You”, the duet with Emily Ann Roberts, my “song of the day again. This fun duet just keeps getting streamed, and the nice comments on You Tube have grown a mile long. And there have been a number of great REVIEWS on this song that I wrote with the two of them.

 

I had the title and some lyrics the day the three of us sat down to write, and suggested that this could be a fun duet song for the two of them. They loved it, and it did not take very long to complete the idea. And there was a lot of laughter in the room as we worked on it together. Happy to be part of this one.



 

HEALTH NOTES

Walmart recalls 850K water bottles after 2 people suffer permanent vision loss.

 

A new study reveals that the pain drug gabapentin can significantly increase the risk of dementia by as much as 40%.

 

Cancer deaths from obesity have tripled in 20 years. The study shows that Vermont, Minnesota, and Oklahoma have the highest rates, while Utah, Alabama, and Virginia had the lowest.

 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN



 

An honest veterinarian.

 

CASH

Money experts say that on average, Americans carry about $67 worth of cash in their wallets. They also say we should not carry more than we’d be upset to lose or have stolen. It’s pretty amazing how little I use cash anymore. It is really weird visiting places that don’t even accept cash…like our minor league baseball park here in Nashville.

 

PEAS IN A POD

An automaker is working on shortening loading and departure times on airplanes with special pods that people will load in, and then be unloaded.



 

The pod will roll you into the plane, then roll you out on departure, leaving you in the middle of the airport, shortening your walk out of the airport. Another pod kind of thing will bring your baggage right to you, eliminating the need to wait by the baggage carousel.

 

AND…a robot will come and pick your suitcases out of your car instead of you having to carry them to the terminal. Yep, we’re pretty much living in a Jetson world these days.

 

SERVING IT UP

My wife and I saw some robot technology when we had dinner at a restaurant in Frankfurt, Germany, when we were there to see our daughter and son-in-law. Our food was delivered by this ROBOT. Pretty amazing.


 

 

 UNCLE WALTER

I had the pleasure of opening up for Jeff Dunham once at the Funnybone Comedy Club in Cincinnati.



 

He’s holding my favorite character, the grumpy old man, who is “Walter”. Jeff would leave cards on each table at the club, encouraging those in attendance to ask Walter a question. Then, before his set, someone at the club would bring the cards backstage, and Jeff would write Walter’s responses to those questions. It was fun watching him do that. And Walter will say ANYTHING! Like...

 

Instead of cleaning house, I just watch an episode of Hoarders and think, wow, my house looks great!!

 

LONG-DISTANCE EV

The Lucid Grand EV touring car just went 749 miles on one charge, breaking a Guinness World Record. Will Americans buy more electric vehicles if they know they can go that far on just one charge?



 

Since this car costs $110,000…I’m thinking maybe not so much.

 

YOU KNOW YOU LOVE CORNHOLE WHEN…

You sculpt your cornhole boards out of sand when you play at the beach.



PROPERTY TAX

New Jersey has the highest rate. You’ll pay $9,413 yearly if you live there. The median is $3,500, with Arkansas being the cheapest state, coming in at just $725 yearly for property taxes. New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Washington are in the top 5 for the most expensive.

 

Mississippi, Indiana, Alabama, and West Virginia are in the top 5 lowest category.

 

Cheaper to live here in the south, y’all.

 

ALSO EXPENSIVE

Stamps. The price of Forever Stamps went from 73 cents to 78 cents yesterday. A danged stamp. Makes me glad I don’t have to lick one to stick on my emails.

 

TODAY’S HEADLINE

Man Kills Himself And Runs Away. (I got nothing for that)

 

TODAY

Rhyming with a couple of talented folks today, Stuie French of the French Family Band.



 

And Alex Miller, who has a record going up the charts right now that he recorded with Tracy Byrd, titled “The Byrd”.



 

It’s the first time the three of us have written together. Both of them are talented guitar players. I’m just going to sit there and try to look pretty.

 

Have a great Monday!

 

 



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