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Empty House Tease...Blast On The Bay...Ding Dongs

BILL BLOG

Wednesday August 27, 2025 

 

It’s Wednesday, and it’s the last “Hump Day” in the month of August. It got down to 49 cool degrees in Nashville last night. 80 will be the high today.

 

YESTERDAY

My songwriting session was with Andrea Pearson, just back from visiting her old home place in Vancouver with her Mom and sister. Canadian…yep…but has been in the States now for a long while. Andrea is truly a gifted singer, and often finds herself on stage singing background with some of the biggest stars. Here’s an EXAMPLE of her singing...with Vince Gill


 

 

It’s always a treat catching up with this Mom of two little girls and writing something new. And yesterday she brought a really cool idea with her to the writing room that we chased. Turned out pretty great if my biased self do say so.

 

A TEASE

I’m a co-writer on a song called “Empty House” that I think is special. It’s a country heartbreaker that I wrote with Stuie French of the French Family Band, who are from Australia and New Zealand. This talented family band released a short “live” performance of this song over the weekend, giving their fans a taste of what’s to come on their new, soon-to-be-released album. Can’t wait. Check out this little VIDEO of part of the song.



 STILL LOVING THIS



That’s the song co-written with Andrea Pearson, whom I mentioned above. Fun being on this great Telluride for sure.

 

BEACH AHEAD

I’m looking forward to being back at the “Blast On The Bay” songwriter festival in beautiful Port St. Joe, Florida. They released the names of all of the songwriters who will be participating this year.



 

I had to miss it last year, so it’s great to be going back. The festival runs October 16-19, and the schedule with this year’s venues will be announced soon. Stay tuned. But come join us on the beach!



SONG OF THE DAY

How about a “magician” song? This song is titled “Houdini” that I wrote with my northern Missouri friends Will and Becky Denton that we wrote together. Becky put this one on her last EP. A little different, but it has a cool sound to it. Thanks for recording it Becky!



 

HEALTH NOTES

A new study says that eating meat could protect against cancer-related death. (If that’s true, I might live forever)

 

Experts say that playing board games reduces the risk of dementia. Keeping the brain active.

 

Hostess is recalling some Ding Dongs because some of them may have mold. (Nothing worse than having your Ding Dong recalled).

 

SPEAKING OF DING DONGS

When our “Hits & Grins” trio is on the road, Steve Dean with the trio has an evening habit. After our show is over, and we’re back at our condo or hotel, or wherever they put us, he has to have a Ding Dog. A FROZEN Ding Dog…right out of the freezer. I know. I rolled my eyes at first. But it’s pretty danged good. Try it.



 

HERE’S YOUR SIGN


 

 I couldn't agree more.

 

UNCLE HERSCHEL

The Cracker Barrel logo is back! My hat is off to management, who not only listened to their upset fans but made the decision to reinstate the old guy sitting at the Cracker Barrel.



You don’t see that often. It’s refreshing. CEO’s and management often choose to dig their heels in and try to wait for controversy to fade away, knowing full well that they will lose one demographic in favor of a sexier, perhaps younger demographic. I’ve seen this happen many times in my radio career. Stories for another time.

 

So, for all the flak the company got when they announced a change of logo, they deserve applause now. I’ll be stopping in soon for an Uncle Herschel’s and wait for it to arrive while playing that frustrating peg game, hoping I can do better than the “Yore just plain dumb” result that I mostly get when I play.

 

WEDDING BELLS

In case you somehow missed it, Taylor Swift said “yes” to Travis Kelce’s proposal. Guess she couldn’t “Shake Him Off”. They dated two years before the Kansas City Chief dropped to his knee to end the dating game. And the social networks blew up at the news. There were 1 million reposts on Instagram in just six hours. Now, what to get the bride and groom?

 

WEDDING REGISTRY

People do put some weird things on their wedding registries. Here are a few…all real.

 

A wheel of cheese, a bidet, snow tires, Twinkies, and my favorite…nose trimmers. All of these much more memorable that 4-slice toaster.

 

WIND IT UP

I’m surprised some couple hasn’t requested one of these in their registry.



 

TODAY’S HEADLINE

Reason For More Bear Sightings: More Bears. (Sometimes you have to print the obvious)

 

TODAY

I’ll be writing with producer-writer-artist-record label head Jerry Salley, and our mutual friend Kristy Cox, who is a great female bluegrass artist on Billy Blue Records. This combination brought home a Golden Guitar Award a few years ago in Australia (Kristy’s home country) for the song “Finger Pickin’ Good” that she recorded with fellow Aussie and world-class guitar player Tommy Emmanuelle.  I’m hoping that kind of magic will be in the room again this morning.


 

Have a great Wednesday!

 

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