BILL BLOG
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Hello, Tuesday morning. It’s going to be nice and “toasty” in Nashville today with a high of 97 on tap.
YESTERDAY
I was on a Zoom call yesterday evening with my friend Tim Stafford and the class he teaches bluegrass music to at ETSU (Eastern Tennessee State University), where his kids major in bluegrass. Yes, you can get a diploma for bluegrass.
My friend Thom Jutz, a hit songwriter who also teaches some at Belmont University here in Nashville, joined in, as did Jon Weisberger, a hit writer who also runs a bluegrass music label, Mountain Home, and is a columnist as well.
I think we may have had as many as 15 students in the Zoom call. We talked about publishing, how songs get cut, how you find co-writers, what comes first, the music or the lyrics, AI and music, and more. Listening to Thom and Jon and Tim, I think I learned as much as the kids did last night. And the students asked some great questions.
One of the students had done some homework and had listened to some of our music, and she asked me about my song “Going Ugly Early” and how that was written. Go figure.
I hope I said something last night that might be of help. I sure had a good time hanging out with them and the guests. Thank you, Professor Tim, for having me.
MNF
As soon as I cleared my Zoom call last night, I watched some of the MANNING CAST on ESPN 2 of the NFL Monday Night Football game between the Chiefs and Broncos. The Chiefs won, but as much attention was put on Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise hanging out together in one of the suites as there was on the game itself.
Taylor was there rooting for her boyfriend Travis Kelce with the Chiefs. Why was Tom there? Nobody seems to know except that he’s good friends with Taylor and Travis. He attended their wedding.
EMMY’S
I did not watch the Emmy Awards last night, but Reba honored Dolly during the telecast. Good for the Emmy folks. Here’s the VIDEO of that tribute.
LULU’S
Lulu’s in Gulf Shores just posted their full schedule for the “Meeting of the Minds” event down in Gulf Shores, coming up in a few weeks. If you take a look, you’ll see I’ll be on their stage with Brent Burns on October 21.
I’ll be doing at least one other show.
And I’ll also be the announcer for the Trop Rock Awards on Thursday, October 22, at the Civic Center Auditorium in Gulf Shores.
Always a fun time getting to hang out with the Parrot Heads that come from all over the country for this event.
SONG OF THE DAY
Shantell Ogden just released a new song, “Cowgirlin’ that I wrote with her and Steve Dean a couple of years ago. It’s out today. Shantell grew up on a ranch out in Ogden, Utah, so she’s singing about something she knows a lot about. You’ll see that with all the horses in this ARTICLE-VIDEO of the song.
Shantell is also the same person who produced a Christmas movie titled “Music City Mistletoe” that I helped her write with Victoria Venier, which turned into the title track of that Yuletide movie. You can watch that on Prime, or several other streaming services during the holiday season this year.
HEALTH NOTES
A Pennsylvania woman has died from measles complications, the third virus-related death in the state this year.
While asleep, the human body loses 40 to 55 calories. Who knew?
Some supplement companies are claiming that creatine can make you smarter.
HERE’S YOUR SIGN
There ya go.
HURRICANES
Have you noticed that we have not had any this year? Scientists are saying that it could be the longest dry spell without one in the Atlantic. I don’t think anyone on the coast is upset with that news, or upset knowing that Jim Cantore won’t be showing up in their town.
Speaking of which, here’s the funny song Brent Burns and I wrote about the Weather Channel dude, “Jim Cantore.”
BULLWINKLE
That Moose made himself at home on the tracks in Poland, causing train delays. Yep. That will do it.
NOT SO FAST
Malls may be making a comeback. The value of malls shot up 13% last year. Over 200 shut down in 2008 alone. And then COVID came along.
I’m not a mall guy. Like this guy, if my wife is shopping at a mall, I’m looking for a place to sit down with my robot dog to pass the time.
GUINNESS
A guy named David Rush is a serial Guinness World Record guy. That’s what he does. He owns over 200 records right now, and his latest is folding over 200 paper airplanes in less than one hour. What does that look like? Take A LOOK.
ONE-CENT
The House voted to eliminate pennies yesterday. On to the Senate.
I’m worried that if the penny goes away, I’m going to have to pay more for your thoughts.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
From Oscar Wilde:
“Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won’t expect it back.”
TODAY
I’m off to write with my buddy Jerry Salley, who has been out on the road a lot, as I have been. And he has an idea he’s wanted to write with me for a while, so today’s the day.
Jerry is quite the producer too, producing numerous hits for bluegrass artists. Last year he got Dolly Parton to send him an old hymn that she had sung, “In the Sweet Bye and Bye.” And Dolly permitted Jerry to produce a full session around the tape she sent him. Did he ever. When you listen to the song, you’ll hear the great harmonies from Carl Jackson, Larry Cordle, and Jerry.
The song won the Dove Award for “Best Bluegrass/Country/Roots Song of the Year in 2022". Just click the link above to listen.
Have a great Tuesday!
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