BILL BLOG
Monday August 18, 2025
Here comes another Monday morning. And it’s going to be very hot all week in Nashville with the heat index climbing over 100 consistently.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on hurricane Erin for the next few days…a major hurricane that’s already been up to Cat 5 strength at one point. Thousands have no power in Puerto Rico, and the trajectory could take it into parts of the East Coast.
THE WEEKEND
Friday morning, songwriters Steve Dean and Wil Nance, and I jumped in my car and made the trip over to Gatlinburg for this year’s Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival. For whatever reason, it took forever. Well, actually, the reason was rain, and SLOW traffic. Snail pace in some places.
We wound up arriving at the Gatlinburg Inn just in time to check into our room, and then, for me, I had to hustle because I was playing in the first show with Jerry Salley, Lauren Mascitti, and Victoria Venier. That went well, and then I stayed to hear the next two shows, the first of which featured my friends Steve Dean, Irene Kelly, and Brian and Karyn White.
And the second round was Wil Nance, Bobby Tomberlin, and Danny Wells.
Everybody sounded great. But because we arrived late, we missed the free meal, so I snuck out and grabbed a bite to eat up the street with Lauren Mascitti and her Nana before returning to the Inn and hitting my pillow early.
SATURDAY
I played twice at the festival. I had a 4 pm show with my “Hits & Grins”
partners Victoria Venier and Steve Dean, and that was great fun…as always. It’s
been a bit since the three of us have played together, so it was great getting
the band back together! And then another show followed us.
SATURDAY EVENING
I sat next to Bobby Tomberlin and the two of us closed out the 2025 Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival with a 90-minute show. We each took turns singing our songs, telling stories, and making folks laugh.
Each of us tried out some new songs, and of course, we played some recognizable songs that folks know. Bobby sang his smash hit “One More Day” that Diamond Rio recorded, and I played “Ugly Early”.
Bobby also sang our song “Looking For Audrey” which the two of us wrote with Linda Davis, the story of Hank Williams’ ghost looking for his ex-wife Audrey Williams. Bobby also wrote about that song in his book, which just came out two days ago, and I can’t wait to read it.
I took a copy home with me that Bobby signed.
I was happy to be chosen to be part of the final songwriter round this year alongside Bobby, and can’t wait to come back in 2026. The dates next year.
BEAR!
We had some excitement in Gatlinburg when a black bear appeared in the parking lot of our hotel. I missed it, but my friend Bobby Tomberlin caught this snapshot.
He looks like he may have visited one of the Moonshine stores before he did this.
IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
Meanwhile, there are so many bears in Florida these days that the state has approved the first bear hunt since 2015. If you go out for a walk in certain parts of Florida, as I did a couple of years ago, you’ll walk upon a warning sign that reads, “Beware of Bears”. I cut my walk short.
WORKING AHEAD
The folks in Waynesboro, Virginia, released this nice promotional article about our “Evening In The Round” show starring Linda Davis with Lang Scott and me at the Wayne Theatre on December 7 of this year.
We’re looking forward to that show. Here’s the ARTICLE with all the details.
SONG OF THE DAY
Since I was with both Steve Dean and Victoria Venier this past weekend, I’m making “In Memphis” the song of the day, a song the three of us wrote together in the car headed for a show in Little Rock one day. We sang the song THAT night at that show, and it went over big. So our “Hits & Grins” trio recorded it, then the TnT Duo recorded it, and then Jeannie Kendall recorded the song. Pretty cool. This is the Jeannie Kendall version of our song.
HEALTH NOTES
In England, a 77-year-old woman died during heart surgery when the hospital lost power for 10 minutes, and even the backup generator failed during the procedure.
Hopeful cancer news. A report claims that a cancer vaccine is showing promise in preventing the recurrence of pancreatic cancer.
A report is claiming that Ozempic and Mounjaro shots threaten to push up pension age as life expectancy rises.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Thanks for noticing.
BUYING A HOME AIN’T CHEAP NO MO’
A new study claims that the annual income needed to cover monthly payments on a median-priced home is now % $126,670. That’s a whopping 60% more than 3 years ago—no wonder these are becoming popular.
At the same time, it was revealed that the number of millionaires in this country has doubled in just a decade. So there’s that.
And sometimes real estate prices go up because of location. Like this home made out of 15 shipping containers. They want 5.2 million for it. That’s because it’s in New Hampshire…a pricey state to live in.
HOW YA HANDLE IT
Miranda Lambert just showed how you handle “it” when a fan in the audience threw a bra at her on stage. Miranda looked at it and said on the mic, “Not my size”.
KINDA COOL
Scientists have figured out a way to turn cigarette butts (often tossed out of windows) into asphalt, which can be used to create better roads that are stronger and more sustainable, considering that people toss out an estimated 4.5 trillion cigarette butts every year? That can’t be a bad thing.
WEIRD FAIR
A self-proclaimed cryptozoologist is claiming that he has come into possession of a dead Bigfoot that he will showcase at this year’s New York State Fair. This one, he says, was found in the Adirondack mountains. Right.
Look for it to be displayed next to the Bearded Lady.
POWERFUL NAME
A study concludes that the name “Robert” is the most powerful. After that, it’s James, John, Christopher, William (hello?), David, Mark, Timothy, Brian, Andrew, Thomas, and Scott.
Now that I know that, I’ll try to use my POWERFUL name to get a better table when I dine at McDonald’s.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Teen Reunited With Pet Rooster Lost At Alabama Cracker Barrel After Civil War Reenactment. (I don’t wanna know)
TODAY
This evening I'll be playing for 2 sold out dinner shows with Linda Davis and Lang Scott at Uncle Lenny’s Restaurant here in town. That will be a ton of fun. Thanks to everyone who bought their tickets early for these shows.
Have a great Monday!
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