BILL BLOG
Monday September 22, 2025
Monday morning, and I’m back in Music City. It’s starting to feel a bit more like Fall. We have a little rain in our forecast with a high of just 79 today…and it looks like the temperatures will be in that range all week long in Tennessee.
THE WEEKEND
My friend Steve Dean and I played the “Songwriter Show” at the Country Music Hall of Fame on Saturday, inside the beautiful Ford Theater.
This was the 5th or 6th time we’ve had the privilege of playing there, and it never gets old.
We played for 45 minutes and took questions from the crowd. Folks from all over the country were there, including a couple from Australia who sat right in the front row. Our emcee mentioned that Australian artist Kristy Cox recorded a song I wrote with Kristy and Jerry Salley titled “Finger Picking Good,” which featured Australian world-class guitar player Tommy Emmanuelle. They wanted to know how that happened, as they are big Tommy fans.
I told them that Kristy was looking for one more song — and an up-tempo song — for her album. I had that title; they loved it, we wrote it, and after the fact, I asked Kristy if she knew Tommy. She did. Good friend actually. I mentioned to her that if Tommy were to play on a song called “Finger Pickin’ Good,” it would turn a good song into something really memorable. She asked, Tommy said yes, and came in and blew the doors off with his playing. AND…he’s such a nice guy to boot. The song went on to win the Golden Guitar Award that year in Australia for “Best Bluegrass Recording of the Year.”
It’s always fun getting to play with Steve at our Hall of Fame. Thank you to the staff and sound folks there for taking such great care of us. I’m looking forward to doing it again sometime next year.
REDS
And for a Reds fan, as I am, it was a pretty exciting weekend watching Cincinnati sweep the Cubs and tie the New York Mets for a wild-card slot into the baseball playoffs. There are just a handful of games left, and I’m planning on catching 2 of those this week in Cincinnati, if the rain doesn’t prevent it. And there’s rain in the forecast for both the games this Wednesday and Thursday against the Pirates. Best time of the year for America’s Pastime, especially if your team still has a shot.
UP NEXT
That would be a return trip to Huntsville, Alabama, for the second time on October 10 & 11 with Freedom Sings USA, where once again, I will be with a group of several other Nashville songwriters, and we’ll each sit and listen to stories from our veterans, and then turn those into songs. Then, the concert we have on Saturday night is free and open to the public, where we will play those songs to honor those local veterans.
ON TV
Over the weekend, bluegrass artist Caroline Owens made an appearance on RFD-TV, discussing her new song “Telluride,” which I co-wrote with Andrea Pearson. Pretty cool. Check out that TV interview HERE. If you’d like. Way to go, Caroline!
SONG OF THE DAY
I was out driving this weekend, listening to Sirius and the “Bluegrass Junction” channel, when I saw this on my screen.
That’s one of my favorite songs I helped write with Darin and Brooke Aldridge that they recorded. It’s just a simple prayer put to music, but it seems to have resonated with many. With that, I’m making “My Prayer” the Song of the Day.
HEALTH NOTES
The new iPhone features a built-in motion sickness detection system. (Wishing I’d have had one that first time I went deep sea fishing)
A 34-year study has revealed that the later you eat, the more likely your body is on the downward slope of health. You’ve gotten older, so breakfast gets pushed back, not because people are lazy, but because they are unwell.
Some health folks are saying that kiwi is the healthiest fruit to eat…each day. High in vitamin C.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
You got me.
HAPPIEST STATE
According to the folks at WalletHub, the happiest state is Hawaii. Hard to be unhappy with those kinds of views. Hawaii is followed by Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Connecticut for the happiest.
Least happy state? West Virginia. Followed by Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama, and Alaska.
Tennessee landed at #45…and yet somehow…I’m pretty danged happy.
YOUNGER FOLK
I read an interesting article that listed a few things the younger generation would never understand. Here are three of my favorites.
There was a time that kids walked to grade school…alone.
Once upon a time, there were smoking sections at High Schools.
And my favorite…if you wanted to answer a phone call, you had to be home.
SHOCKING
This week, in People Magazine, Priscilla Presley said that Elvis is dead. Despite long-standing conspiracy theories that he faked his own death. Others swore that they saw “The King” flipping burgers at Burger King.
It’s that conspiracy theory that prompted me to write the song, “I Ain’t Coming Back, And Neither Is Elvis,” that I wrote years ago with Wil Nance when those conspiracy theories first broke out.
TODAY’S QUOTE
From comedian Bill Burr. “I’m not saying women are smarter than men, but I am saying that men are dumber than women”.
TODAY
I’m off to write with Pennsylvania native Bill DiLuigi today at my publishing company. Here’s a nice VIDEO INTERVIEW with Bill, and you’ll hear him sing my favorite song of his, “The Great American Song”.
Have a great Monday!
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