BILL BLOG
Friday September 5, 2025
And a good Friday morning to you from Marion, Illinois where we have a little light rain and a high of 79 today. Back home in Nashville? Storms and a high of 94.
YESTERDAY
Myself, along with songwriters Bobby Tomberlin, Irene Kelley, and Bill DiLuigi made a three-hour trip from Nashville to Marion, Illinois, for a Freedom Sings USA retreat…the second year in a row we’ve done so in Marion.
We checked into our hotel, and then headed to a beautiful church-venue for a meet and greet and dinner with guests, veterans, the Mayor, organizers, and more.
Steve Dean, one of the co-founders of Freedom Sings, joined me and the other songwriters I mentioned where we each performed 2 songs each for a wonderful and appreciative crowd. But before we started singing, I had quite the unforgettable moment.
Last year, I wrote with veteran Art Fager, who led 151 kids into battle in Iraq. He returned home with 150. The one young soldier that he lost, Sgt. Brian Romines still haunts Art. He wears a bracelet on his wrist with that young man’s name on it. His song is titled “151”.
Last night, Art was introduced and came to the stage. And then he honored me by giving me this.
He brought 5 flags home from those battles in Iraq, and he gave me the 5th and final one he had. And thanked me with tears in his eyes. And I cried. This plaque holds a note, with some of what he read on stage last night. Here are some of those words.
“The flag was one of many flags that Soldiers from Alpha Battery, my unit, flew in Iraq in 2005, to give to people special to us or who had done a great service. I came home with several to give to such people and groups. This is the last one I have to give away and have held on to because it needed to go to someone special. Nearly 20 years later, Bill Whyte is that man.
So, on behalf of the 150 soldiers who returned, we say thank you for the ONE you honored in the song 151.
I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house. Art’s flag will be displayed with honor in my house for the rest of my days. Truly an unforgettable moment.
TELLURIDE
Caroline Owens put up another wonderful tease of her brand new single “Telluride,” which I wrote with Andrea Pearson. Here’s that TEASE.
All three of us are excited for what might happen with this up-tempo bluegrass song.
SONG OF THE DAY
“Telluride” was officially released at midnight last night, so let’s make it “Telluride” the Song of the Day.
HEALTH NOTES
Medical folks are saying that dangerous heart conditions can now be detected with an AI stethoscope in just seconds.
A published study reveals that climbing five or more flights of stairs every day can reduce the risk of heart disease by 20%.
Another study is claiming that older adults who eating eat an early breakfast live longer.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
An honest admission from a husband.
NFL
The NFL season started with a spitting contest last night during the Cowboys-Eagles game that the Super Bowl Champion Eagles finally won.
Jalen Carter got kicked out of the game in the first six seconds for the Eagle, although replays show that Cowboys QB Dak Prescott may have spit first.
Just a couple of grown men?...having fun.
WHO YA GONNA LEAVE IT TO?
Kind of shocking to read that half of all Americans have no will. It’s pretty easy to fill one out online these days, or write one out with the help of those who do that for a living. Hard to explain why some don’t take the time to do that.
With that said, it reminds me of the funny song my friend Gerald Smith recorded, “Where There’s A Will…There’s A Relative”.
So, maybe that’s why some don’t bother.
MEANWHILE
Some brides are now using AI to write their wedding vows instead of trying to figure out the perfect words to say all by themselves.
Some wedding vows show a little humor. Like this one.
Celebrant: Do you take this man to be your husband?
Bride: I do.
Celebrant: Do you take this woman to be your wife?
Bride: He does.
WILLIE…AGAIN
Willie Nelson just recorded an album full of Merle Haggard classics. What’s significant about it is the fact that this is Willie’s 78th album! 78. Amazing.
Last night I sat next to my songwriter buddy Bobby Tomberlin, who has TWO Willie Nelson cuts. Oh no, I’m not jealous at all. On Willie’s last album, he recorded a song Bobby co-wrote that’s all about “Hanks Guitar”. And he sang that song last night in our little concert with veterans here in Illinois. Pretty cool.
GOLD
A year ago, Costco offered up a gram of gold to customers, and they were snatched up. One year later, it’s worth 42% more. Gold is now selling for $3,549 an ounce!
Pretty good return.
TODAY’S HEADLINE
Police arrested everyone on February 22. (That was a busy day)
TODAY
I’m grabbing some early breakfast the the hotel I’m staying in with extended family members, Dodge Raymer and his daughter Stacey, who overnighted in the same hotel I’m in. They drove over from Missouri because our mutual friend, Crystal Gayle, was in concert last night about 14 miles away from Marion. It will be nice to catch up with them before I go to write with my veteran today.
Calvin Scott is a 71-year-old Vietnam veteran. I met him last night, and he told me he had just gone back and revisited Vietnam after all these years. He seems like quite the character, so we’ll have fun turning his story into a song today.
Then tonight we have a songwriter show at Little Nashville, a great restaurant venue here in Marion.
And then Saturday night will be the big concert on the town square here, singing the songs we wrote with veterans for Freedom Sings USA.
Quite the weekend ahead.
Have a great weekend yourself!
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