BILL BLOG
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
Let’s get over the hump. It’s Wednesday, and it’s going to warm up to an 89-degree high in Nashville today.
YESTERDAY
By now, my songwriter buddies Steve Dean, Minnie Murphy, Bill DiLuigi, and Bobby Tomberlin are on the road to the small town of Heyworth, Illinois, to write with veterans for Freedom Sings USA.
This is the group’s third trip to Heyworth, but the first one I’ve had to miss because of this lingering cold. I’ll miss seeing the folks up there, and especially the two veterans whom I have already written with. Navy Corpsman Marc Rogers, nicknamed “Armadillo.”
And Carl Johnston, who served as a chaplain in the Army, and is now a minister in Heyworth.
I so hate not being there, but I know 4 new great songs will be written with those we owe so much to.
GREAT MUSIC NEWS
I found out yesterday that young country artist Spencer Hatcher will be releasing a summer single titled “Hot Weather, Cold Beer” on July 2, which I wrote with Spencer, his brother Connor, and my friend Steve Dean.
The single will be released nationally on that date, and it could be a song that radio stations will spin a bunch through the summer season. We’ll see, but right now, we are quietly excited about the song’s prospects.
EMPTY HOUSE
I found this LITTLE CLIP of the French Family Band rehearsing “Empty House” backstage at the Grand Ole Opry before singing it on the Opry stage that night.
This is a song I wrote with Stuie French, the Dad in this family trio, with Camille singing the lead (wonderfully) with powerful harmony from Stuie, and their talented son named “Sonny.” This is one of my favorite songs that I’ve been a part of for a very long time, and from what I hear and read, it’s becoming a favorite off their new album, which was just released. Thank you French Family Band for slaying this tearjerker of a country song.
DAD BRAG
Got this great black and white photo from my daughter yesterday.
She and her husband, Casey, are getting ready to return to the States after a three-year Army tour in Germany. They are in a great location that has allowed them to be within driving or train distance of a lot of the great sites in Europe, and they’ve taken full advantage of that.
When my wife and I visited them, we drove into Austria and spent a couple of days. And it wasn't that long a drive.
So as their departure date back here arrives in just a few weeks, they’ve taken some time to see some of their final places, like the Eiffel Tower. You never know if you’re ever going to get the chance to see unreal places like that again, if ever.
SONG OF THE DAY
And that’s the thought behind today’s song, “If Not Now,When?” that I wrote with Brent Burns, that’s been a fan favorite whenever Brent plays our song, which is often. Kick off those bucket list items before it’s too late.
HEALTH NOTES
An anti-aging shot has moved closer to reality after the first human patient was injected. (Pretty soon I’ll look like I’m 30 again!)
A teenager is fighting for his life after contracting flesh-eating bacteria from swimming in a Florida park. It’s rare. Only 100 to 200 cases a year, but it can be lethal with a 50% mortality rate. The Florida Health Department reported a total of 33 cases last year, with five deaths.
A new study claims that taking laxatives can help with memory and attention span problems.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Thanks for letting me know. I’m buying a Suburban tomorrow.
FAST FOOD
Jersey Mike’s topped Chick-fil-A this year in the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index after Chick-fil-A led the way for the last decade.
Jimmy John’s came in third, tied with Panda Express.
Papa John’s and Pizza Hut followed.
Dairy Queen and McDonald’s finished near the bottom of the list.
SPEAKING OF PIZZA HUT
I’m only mentioning this because of an obvious pun that somebody needs to use.
Pizza Hut just sold for over 2 BILLION dollars. Are you ready for it?
That’s a lot of dough! (You’re welcome)
UP…AGAIN
That would be the stock market. It shot up past 52,000 yesterday, a record. I remember when it hit 35,000, thinking that’s as high as it could possibly go. Proving once again that I know nothing about the stock market.
4TH OF JULY
The 250th Birthday Celebration in DC will see 851 THOUSAND fireworks explode in the sky the night of the 4th. And yes, that’s a Guinness World Record. That’s a LOT of fireworks.
I once did a TV report around the 4th of July in Cincinnati, back when I was doing the morning radio show at WUBE for the local NBC affiliate. They sent me out to the Rossi Fireworks factory, where the Italian family has been making fireworks forever. It was quite the tour, seeing how they put those explosives together and then fired them off.
They put together impressive displays like this, firing them off from barges in the Ohio River.
And to this day, every time a Cincinnati Red baseball player hits a home run, the Rossi Company throws up some fireworks over Great American Ballpark. Still impressive, as that tour was back then, that they gave me.
A MOBILE BOOT
L.L. Bean is getting ready to open it’s first store in the Nashville area. It will be located in Franklin, TN, just south of downtown. To promote the opening, this bad boy will be paying some visits.
Yes. The L.L. Bean “Boot Mobile.”
Because they’re going to be in Music City, they may need to consider making a “Cowboy Boot Mobile.” We’ll see.
A CHICKEN
Now, when I lived in the Soybean Capital of the World, Decatur, Illinois, I became friends with Bill Krekel, who owned Krekel’s Custard Stand. They made the best hamburger I have ever tasted. Bill was a fun guy, and he drove this around town to draw notice to him and the Custard Stand.
And I got to ride with him many times, watching people stare at us, or give the cars a “thumbs up” as they passed by.
NOT THE ONLY STARES
When I first met my wife, Kathy, she was a successful director for Mary Kay. Successful enough that she won more than one PINK car for her efforts. These are the ones they give away to directors today.
I drove it some, and got some really strange looks from guys that pulled up to stoplights beside me. I yelled at one guy, “Hey, it’s free!” You have to do what you have to do sometimes to try and get your Man Card back.
BUILD A HOOKAH LOUNGE
They say these things are trending for adding to your home.
I ran the idea past my wife. She was not very receptive to seeing me sit cross-legged on a couch, sucking on a Hookah pipe. She’s SO narrow-minded sometimes.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Mr. Unknown:
“An overthinker’s favorite hobby is trying to guess if you are mad at them, and then planning their apology speech.”
TODAY
Another day of trying to kick this cold. Hoping this is the day.
Have a great Wednesday!
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