BILL BLOG
Friday August 15, 2025
It’s Friday morning, and I’ve got the guitar zipped up and bag packed for a trip over to Gatlinburg.
It’s going to be warm in Nashville today with a high of 93. A little cooler in the Smoky Mountains, which is where I’m headed. 85 degrees high today, with rain in the forecast tomorrow.
YESTERDAY
With my songwriting appointment being cancelled, I had the day free to tie up some loose ends, practice some songs for this weekend’s songwriter’s festival, and pack. It was a day filled with emails and texts to respond to, as well as a day to tweak a couple of songs and send them to my publisher.
A NEW SHOW
A new show got added to my calendar as well. Friday, November 21, I’ll be back at Starstruck Farms, the estate that Reba McEntire once owned. I’ll be there with my “Hits & Grins” trio that features Steve Dean and Victoria Venier.
This is a cool venue, and there is a delicious dinner served before the show, which is all part of your ticket price. Starstruck Farms is located in Lebanon, Tennessee, which is maybe an hour east of Nashville. Hope to see some of you there.
JEANNIE SEELEY
Yesterday was the Memorial Service for Jeannie Seeley that took place, of course, at the Grand Ole Opry. I was sorry to have missed it. The service will be available HERE at 10 AM this morning if you missed it like I did. My friends Bobby Tomberlin and Linda Davis both sang at the ceremony, with Linda singing Jeannie’s signature song “Don’t Touch Me” with Wendy Molten and Mandy Barnett. I guess that once it goes “live,” it will be available to watch whenever you’d like…which I plan on doing.
She touched a lot of lives and will be missed by so many…including me.
SONG OF THE DAY
This is another song from my friend Jenny Tolman (who is in the picture above with me and Jeannie Seeley) that I wrote with her and her husband Dave Brainard, which was on Jenny’s last album.
The song is titled “Workin’ Woman’s Blues”, and it’s a great track, complete with some real horns on the song that I particularly love. Check it out.
And don’t forget to look for Jenny this Fall on CBS on the Taylor Sheridan talent show contest called “The Road”.
HEALTH NOTES
Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife have pledged $2 billion to the Oregon Cancer Center. That’s the largest single gift ever to a US University.
A study finds that doctors became worse at spotting cancer after relying on AI for help.
Dollar General has recalled some instant coffee products over possible glass pieces in grounds.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Once again…spell check. Spell check please on Aisle 6!
RETIRING
Go Banking just released its list of the best cities to retire in. Cost of living, health, etc. Here’s their Top 5.
5…Greenville, SC
4…Pensacola
3…Raleigh, NC
2…Ft. Myers, Florida
And the number one choice for retirement is…Tallahassee, Florida.
MARRIAGE ADVICE
I don’t know who wrote this, but it’s pretty strong marriage advice.
“Marry the one who gives you the same feeling you get when you see food coming at a restaurant.”
ROBOTS
In Beijing, they are holding the first-ever Humanoid Robot games. BOXING is one of those games.
There are track events (I would not want to compete against one in marathon running), football, and more. Over 280 teams from 18 countries are competing with their Humanoids. I’m waiting to see how Humanoids do in the 4-man bobsled run.
POPULAR
That would be Taylor Swift, who just broke the internet. She was on the podcast hosted by her boyfriend and Kansas City Chiefs Travis Kelce, alongside his brother and former Philadelphia Eagle, Jason Kelsce. 1.3 MILLION viewers checked it out during the first hour it was on the air.
The old record was when President Trump sat in on the Joe Rogan podcast. 800,000 tuned into the first hour of that one.
Taylor announced details about her new album, “The Life of a Showgirl”. I have a strong feeling that she might sell a few copies.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Caution Urged When Winter Manure Spreading. (Indeed. Never be downwind when that’s going on)
TODAY
Songwriters Wil Nance and Steve Dean are going to pile into my car with me, and we’ll make the trip over to the Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival that starts this evening and runs through Saturday at the Gatlinburg Inn.
I’m playing three times at the festival this year.
Today at I’ll be in the opening round with writers Jerry Salley, Victoria Venier, and Lauren Mascitti. That show starts at 5:15 pm.
Saturday, I have a set with my “Hits and Grins” trio at 4 pm.
And then Saturday night, I’ll help close out the festival in the feature round with Bobby Tomberlin at 7:30 pm.
The stage is set, and we’re ready to go.
It’s always a fun festival in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Have a great weekend.
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