BILL BLOG
Monday, August 24, 2026
Monday morning, and I’m back home after spending a weekend in the mountains of East Tennessee. Some of the cooler weather I experienced in the mountains must have jumped in my suitcase, as the high today in Nashville will only be 83.
THE WEEKEND
Friday morning, I jumped in an SUV with Linda Davis and Lang Scott and headed east from Nashville to the Virginia-Carolina border.
All the way to beautiful Mountain City, Tennessee. And during the drive, we did an interview with a radio personality from Midland-Odessa, Texas, to promote this show we’re doing coming up in less than two weeks.
The last several miles were very picturesque, driving through the mountains, and several of the miles we had a stream running beside the road.
We settled into a beautiful duplex provided by our Saturday night concert host, with a gorgeous view out the windows.
DINNER
Friday night we had dinner with our Wiley, and Caroline Roark, and some other friends who made the trip over from Nashville to catch our show, Robert and Linda, at Wiley’s and Caroline’s beautiful estate overlooking the local mountain range. They were great hosts, and dinner was pretty incredible, which was topped off with caramel ice cream cake. And I got the recipe for that!
Wiley is into paving and seems to have paved most of East Tennessee through his company Maymead Inc. His company was THE company after the devastating hurricane Helene-related rain that overwhelmed this Appalachian region a few years ago. His company did some MAJOR rebuilding of roads, and in a fairly short time considering what they were up against.
There was some great dinner conversation, and the night ended with Linda sitting at their piano singing some hymns.
Thank you to Wiley and Caroline for being such wonderful hosts, and even better people. And thanks for sponsoring our concert!
SATURDAY MORNING
Lang Scott and I drove into the town of Mountain City, TN, and had breakfast at a local place, “Jens Café.” It’s always an indication that good food is on the way when there are more pickup trucks in the lot than cars. And that was the case. The food was good, but even better were the prices on their menu! I got a full breakfast for just 6 bucks.
Hard to beat cheap and good.
And then Saturday afternoon, we did a little rehearsing before our show last night.
SATURDAY EVENING
The Heritage Hall Theatre has been standing for a long time in Mountain City. 4 decades as a matter of fact.
When we pulled up to unload, I thought it looked like an old High School, a bit like the one I attended growing up in Missouri. Turns out, I was right. It was originally a High School the town saved and turned into this theater.
They put on plays and musicals, and then they also have acts like ours from time to time.
And folks like my friends Darin and Brooke Aldridge have played there, as has the legendary Doc Watson.
We had such a great show, and folks were so receptive. And it looked to me like the place was mostly sold out…big crowd. Our hosts, our sound guy, catering, lights, everything associated with the show was just perfect Saturday night for our hour and a half show that just flew by. And the warm standing ovation was just a nice bonus for this wonderful trip over to East Tennessee.
Pretty sure we’ll be back, and we can’t wait.
ANOTHER SHOW
I added one more show to my calendar. Wednesday, October 21, Brent Burns and I will have a show at Lulu’s down in Gulf Shores during the big Parrot Head Event, “MOTM,” that’s going on all week. Show time is 5-8 pm that evening at Lulu’s.
NO REGRETS
Thank you to Bluegrass Today for this wonderful ARTICLE on the new Kristy Cox song “No Regrets,” which was released this past Friday, that I wrote with Lauren Mascitti and Kristen Leigh Bearfield.
I never get too overconfident predicting a song’s success, but I think this tune is going to get a lot of airplay on bluegrass radio for Kristy, and for us.
SONG OF THE DAY
Here’s a song I wrote with former American Idol contestant Ayla Brown, who finished in the “Top 5” the year she competed. It’s one of the first songs we wrote together, “Can’t Run Away.”
The two of us wrote the song with Rick Tiger, who had set up this writing appointment. We unfortunately lost Rick to COVID in 2020. Every time I listen to this song, I think of Rick.
HEALTH NOTES
The CDC has issued a safety alert for alfalfa sprouts after 55 people nationwide have been sickened with various illnesses.
A Minnesota-based startup company is developing a new hypoallergenic peanut that would allow those allergic to peanuts to enjoy that snack again.
There’s an “exercise pill” coming that may reduce appetite and mimic the effects of physical activity. It just cleared its first human test.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
Be forewarned.
DON’T SPEED!
Those Flock camera folks, who have placed cameras all over cities to read our license plate numbers, are now adding drones with cameras to do the same thing, from as far away as 2,000 feet.
I think I’m going to change my license plate to this.
Just to mess with the cameras.
LEARN A TRADE
The number of college students will drop as much as 13%. More and more high school kids are enrolling in trade schools. Pretty sure that number will keep increasing. Lot cheaper. Take it from a Dad who paid college tuition.
WHAT A CROC
With parents trying to save money on “Back to School” shopping, you can get a deal on Crocs right now. 2 Crocs for 50 bucks.
If they allow kids to wear Crocs in school. I have no idea. I’d be more likely to wear a pair of these instead. But, that’s just me.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Abe Lemons:
“Retirement is problematic since there is never a day off.”
TONIGHT
I’m going to my friend Jenny Tolman’s album release party this evening.
She’s going to be performing every song off of this new album, including a song titled “California Girl” that I wrote with her and her husband Dave Brainard, who also produced “Music City Mutt.” Should be a fun evening.
Have a great Monday!
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