BILL BLOG
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Thursday it is. And the heat is in the “crazy” hot range. We were near 100 yesterday, and may get there today with a projected high of 98. But at least, there’s humidity to go with it!
YESTERDAY
I wrote with the IBMA (Bluegrass) reigning Female Vocalist of the Year for the first time, Jaelee Roberts.
And, our friend Alex Miller jumped in to help write a great “cheating song. Yep, they are still writing and singing those. In Nashville, I’m pretty sure it’s the law to have to write a cheating song every once and again.
We were up to the task. And it was great getting to know Jaelee, who, besides being an individual performing artist, is also a member of the esteemed group “Sister Sadie.”
Jaelee is the brunette to the right in this picture. She is such a great singer. Here’s an EXAMPLE. And, at lunch yesterday she confided she has a few tattoos. And one was brand new on her arm that was aching a bit while we ate Mexican. And there’s a great story about this particular tattoo.
She and Sister Sadie had played at the Ryman Auditorium the night before. They get to play there and at the Opry a lot. Says a lot about their talent. But almost on a whim, the girls decided to get a small “stained glass window” tattoo on their arms, a symbol of those beautiful stained-glass windows at the Ryman, the former church.
I’m not a big tattoo person, don’t have any, but that’s kind of cool.
In fact, I told Alex and Jaelee that if I ever got a tattoo, I think mine would be the eye exam chart.
I’d put it on my arm, and then when anyone looked at it, they could check their vision at the same time. Can you tell the three of us had fun yesterday?
A NEW DATE
I’ll be back hosting a songwriting round at the Bluebird Café on August 5, with my friend Brady Seals, and two other great songwriters to be named later.
Always, always an honor to play at the Holy Grail for songwriters. This one will be the featured round at 9 pm that evening. Every show sells out instantly. Tickets will go on sale one week before the show. I’ll put up that reminder as the date draws closer.
ON THE CHART
Just saw that the Dailey & Vincent song "Moon Shines on the Still" is sitting at number 2 this week on this great bluegrass chart.
Banjo Radio is a great internet bluegrass radio station run by Kyle Cantrell, who used to be my boss when I worked at WSM-FM here in Nashville. Thank you, Kyle, for loving and playing this song that I wrote with Laura Leigh Jones.
Oh, and don’t forget, this great album is available at Cracker Barrel stores.
GOOD MUSIC NEWS
Payton Howie’s great new single “Truck Bed,” which I wrote with her and Brady Seals, has now gone to radio here in the States, as well as in Australia. I love this rockin’ country song, and here’s to a bunch of radio stations playing this song. If you haven’t heard the song yet, click the link above.
SONG OF THE DAY
Today’s song is “Blue Ain’t Just A Color Anymore" that Kristy Cox recorded. This is a song I wrote by myself, and there’s certainly a cool thing about getting a cut on a song you write solo. 98% of my songs are co-written, so this one is memorable. Thank you, Kristy, for loving the song.
Kristy has a new album on the way that I have two songs on, and she will host an album release party at the world-famous Station Inn on July 18, performing every song on the new album with her great band. I’ll be there. Come join us if you can.
HEALTH NOTES
Sad to see “Lethal Weapon” actor Danny Glover revealing that he has Alzheimer’s at the age of 79. Gosh, here’s to a cure for that awful disease that so many of us have had experiences with.
For the second year in a row, cases of measles will hit record highs, and this year is on track to be substantially worse than 2025. A leading epidemiologist says, “This is a major public health warning.”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against using a fan to combat the heat when temperatures are above 90, claiming it can actually increase our body temperature. Go figure.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Okay, I think we could use a little less Star Wars stuff.
STATE ANIMALS
I saw a headline that asked, “Do you know your state animal?” No, I do not. Not in any of the several states I’ve lived in. So, I looked.
I might have guessed my home state of Missouri. It’s a mule. Heck, I graduated as a Central Missouri State University mule, so I most surely should have known that one.
Here in Tennessee, where I live now? It’s the raccoon.
In Illinois, it’s the white-tailed deer.
In Ohio, the same animal, the white-tailed deer.
In Wisconsin, it’s the badger. (I think I could have guessed that as well as that’s the mascot for the University of Wisconsin)
And in Indiana? They were lazy. They have not named a state animal in the Hoosier state.
If you’re curious about your state, here’s the ENTIRE LIST.
SOCCER FUNNY
The U.S. beat Bosnia yesterday to advance to the final 16 in soccer. I’m not a huge fan of the game, but I can appreciate this line from soccer star Landon Donovan, who is one of the World Cup announcers. He said that he was so stressed out watching the game that “my fake hair was falling out.” Now that’s some kind of stress!
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Quite the new Presidential Library here for Teddy Roosevelt.
Located in Medora, North Dakota, up in the Badlands area, they say it’s the only library where you can ride a horse and get there, much like the old “Rough Rider” Teddy himself. Check out this view from inside.
Not bad. I played a two-week run at a club with my band in Dickinson, North Dakota, years ago, and we had time to go horseback riding in the Badlands, and it is beautiful. And the outdoor theatre they have in nearby Medora. A great place to see the musical they've been putting on for years.
I’ve only visited one Presidential Library.
That’s me, and my “Hits & Grins” partners Victoria Venier and Steve Dean alongside Steve Dean’s Dad Frank Dean at the Clinton Library in Little Rock. We were playing in Little Rock, Steve’s hometown, and had some time off, so his Dad took us on the tour. And no, they would not let us pass any laws while we were seated at the table.
PROPOSAL
All I know is that this guy put a lot of pressure on other guys to come up with something memorable when they propose to their girl.
They climbed the antenna of the Empire State Building, he proposed, then they were arrested. So maybe their marriage ceremony will be in a jail cell? We’ll see.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From the late actress Aubrey Hepburn:
“The best thing in life to hold onto is each other.”
TODAY
I’m online writing with my East Coast friend, Rick Lang, today. Rick’s new project is an album titled “Hard Times and Heartaches.” Every song on this album is written by Rick, or by Rick and a co-writer or three like me.
The first single is from Dylan Harper, “Hard Hard Work.” Dylan happens to be the talented brother of this year’s American Idol winner, Hannah Harper.”
One of the songs Rick and I will be included on this album to be released late this year.
Have a great Thursday!
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