BILL BLOG
Thursday September 11, 2025
And a good Thursday morning to you. It's warm today in Music City…and then it’s getting warmer. Today's high is 88, but we’ll be back in the 90s for the rest of the week.
Let us not forget that today is 9/11. A day when time froze still for most of us. A day when most of us remember where we were, and what we were doing when the planes hit the towers. I was on air for a very long day, covering the event on WSM-FM Radio from about 5 AM to 8 pm that night.
Trying to make some kind of sense of it all. Talking with listeners, many of whom were crying, playing patriotic music, and doing my best to keep up with the story. May we never forget.
YESTERDAY
I started on a new “timely” song, about stuff going on in the news these days, with my producer-label head-songwriter friend Jerry Salley. An idea I mentioned to him a week ago, and he asked that I hold that idea for him to help write. So that’s what we did yesterday.
There’s just a little more work to be done on this one, so we have another date on the books to do just that. While I was with him, he told me how great a song of mine that I wrote with Rick Lang sounds, as Jerry is producing this new album full of Rick Lang-written or co-written songs. And that’s always good to hear. This particular album is scheduled for release late this year or early next.
AND THEN…
Last night came the horrible news about Charlie Kirk being killed. I sent Jerry
Salley a text after seeing the news, telling him we need to finish this news
song sooner rather than later. Here we are writing a song about all the crazy,
sometimes horrible news we see and hear, and then that happened. It gave me
pause for sure.
THAT’S LUNCH
Yesterday, the Billy Blue offices were full of songwriters, all four writing spaces. Music and ideas in every room. Alex Miller was in the building writing with an Irish bluegrass singer. What's it sound like when a kid from Kentucky and a guy from Ireland sing and pick together? Check THIS out.
Alex and I grabbed lunch after we both finished our writing sessions. And it's always a good time getting to hang with that tall Kentucky drink of water kid that was so memorable on American Idol a couple of years ago.
He told me that our song “More Country Than You,” which he recorded with “Voice Star” Emily Ann Roberts, that the three of us wrote, has now been viewed well over 350,000 times! I think that’s because the song is a bit throwback and fun, like an old Porter and Dolly song. Here’s a little CLIP of that showing off the fun chemistry between these two.
Since this song was recorded, Emily Ann signed a major recording deal with Sony Records, no surprise to anyone who’s been following and listening to this East Tennessee native. Here’s her first single for them, also fun, showing off her personality, “Jack and Jill Daniels”.
NICE ARTICLE
This one was written by a friend of mine Diane Garrett, who wrote about my radio hero, Gary Burbank, who passed away a week or so ago. Truly a legend that can’t be replaced. Thank you for the article, and the kind words Diane.
SONG OF THE DAY
Speaking of fun, today’s song is “If You Can’t Stand TheHeat” from Jenny Tolman, which the two of us wrote with her talented husband Dave Brainard. Kind of sexy too, if I do say so. And yes, we wrote this in Jenny’s kitchen on day.
HEALTH NOTES
A study has determined that chronic insomniacs have a 40% higher risk of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, the equivalent of 3.5 additional years of aging.
Researchers have found that about 45% of people 15 and older with diabetes remain undiagnosed.
Some research is also suggesting that a single dose of medical LSD could reduce anxiety.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Indeed you do.
NOT A BAD JOB
Ryan Seacrest just signed a new contract with ABC, extending his hosting duties of American Idol, which is about to begin a new season. He makes $12 million per year doing that job. Then add hosting Wheel of Fortune and his other ventures, and his annual salary is $75 million per year. Pretty good work if you can get it.
BATTERY LIFE
Tesla sales are off. It might be that it costs between 10-20,000 dollars to replace the battery on those electric vehicles. Yikes.
Or, it could be that this thing is just flat out ugly.
MARRIAGE THOUGHT FROM A WIFE
The only one who never grows up and moves away is your husband.
INSURANCE
It’s expensive. For employers as well as individuals. Employers are seeing a 10% jump in health insurance plans for their employees. That’s the biggest jump in 15 years. And a family plan now costs $25,000 yearly per family.
Is it any wonder employers are looking to use AI to do so many jobs? AI doesn’t require a health plan.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Deadman Told To Get Back To Work. (If I had a dime for every time an old boss said that to me…)
TODAY
I’m off to write with Brady Seals and Lauren Mascitti today, the second time for this trio. Looking forward to it.
Have a great Thursday!
Comments
Post a Comment