HEAT

BILL BLOG Tuesday, June 30, 2026

A hot Tuesday ahead. And it’s warming up for the 4th of July. 95 today in Nashville, 97 tomorrow, and 98 on Wednesday.

It was so hot in Switzerland that they claimed a group of yodelers had to practice for a festival with their feet in a fountain. Water yodeling. You gotta love that.

YESTERDAY I wrote with my friend Troy Engle, who is now a member of Ricky’s Skagg’s great band, “Kentucky Thunder.” Troy had a day off before catching the bus this morning with Ricky and the guys to head to Colorado for a show out there, so we wrote. Turned out to be something fun and catchy to add to our catalog.

Troy also showed me a video of him singing our song with Ricky and the band that we wrote together, “Never Too Lost,” which was a #1 bluegrass-gospel song for Troy. Can’t tell you how cool it was to see Ricky singing along and playing mandolin to our tune, and they play the song at every Ricky Skaggs show.

I’m going to get to see that myself when Ricky plays at the famed Ryman Auditorium on July 21. That should be a moment!

HOT WEATHER My young friend Spencer Hatcher shared this video tease of the song “Hot Weather, Cold Beer”, his new single that will be released this week on July 3, just in time for the hot 4th of July weekend. This is a “summer” song for sure that I wrote with Spencer, his younger brother Connor, and my buddy Steve Dean. He’s going to be singing this song a lot wherever he plays the rest of the year, and with whomever he’s sharing the stage with, as he did with Zach Top recently, as well as opening for Hank Jr.

This should be one the crowd sings back at him, “Hot Weather…Cold Beer.”

250 YEARS OLD IS AMERICA A CBS poll asked Americans to name our greatest contribution over the past 250 years. Most believed it’s a democracy with 16% of the vote.

The light bulb from old Thomas Edison got 14%.

Then the internet got 10%, the automobile 6%, the telephone 5%, and the airplane 4%.

I might have voted for indoor plumbing and GPS as well.

FUNNY This headline is from the folks at Babylon Bee, who write very funny “fake” headlines.

“Cracker Jack Changes Name To More Politically Correct Caucasian Jack.”

SCAMS A report claims that 12% of scams last year used AI or deepfakes. Some 15 million Americans were scammed out of money in 2025.

I’m not the smartest guy when it comes to stuff like that, but generally my belief is, “If it sounds too good to be true, it is.”

And with AI being able to clone voices that sound like someone you know, it’s getting even scarier. Grandma calls and asks for money? It might not be Granny.

QUOTE OF THE DAY From Jay Leno:

“Politics is just show business for ugly people.”

TODAY I get to write with Jimmy Fortune again, which is always fun. And not only is he one of the greatest tenor singers ever, but the man has his own danged bobblehead doll!

We’ll have fun today.

Have a great Tuesday!

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H O T

BILL BLOG Monday, June 29, 2026

It’s Monday morning, y’all. And the heat wave has moved into Nashville. They’re calling it “dangerous heat.” A high of 93 is expected today, 97 tomorrow.

I’m surely glad someone invented AC. My top 3 inventions of all time might be AC, GPS, and indoor plumbing.

THE WEEKEND It sure was fun writing once again with Victoria Venier, who is the “girl” part of our “Hits & Grins” trio with Steve Dean and me.

It had been a while since I’d seen her, as we have both been busy doing our own things lately. On top of all of her other talents, Victoria is an “avid” horsewoman and owns, I think, three now? And she’s just now breaking in a young colt who is now fully grown. That’s always fun. She told me that the first official ride on a new horse is just getting up and sitting still in the saddle for a few seconds, and then dismounting. If the horse doesn’t buck? You’ve had a good ride.

So we caught up, talked horses, and wrote a brand-new tune. A good Friday.

ALAN JACKSON He performed his final concert in Nashville this weekend, and the rain did not stop folks from packing the Tennessee Titans football stadium.

He said to the crowd, “We’re not going to dwell on all this sad ‘last show’ stuff…I’m not dead.”

No, he certainly is not. But he’s been battling a disease that makes it hard for him to walk and keep his balance, so he will no longer tour.

I had the pleasure of being around him a couple of times. He could be a tough radio interview because he’s quiet…soft spoken. But his music spoke for him. Big time.

Thanks for all the great music Alan.

SAFE STATES WalletHub just listed the 5 safest states in the country. They are:

5…Utah

4…Massachusetts

3…New Hampshire

2…Maine

1…Vermont (Safe…and they’ve got Ben & Jerry’s!) (Pic)

NEW MIRANDA I do love the album title for the new Miranda Lambert album coming out in October, “Crisco.”

If the album is a hit, I’m going to put out an album titled “Lard.”

HOT FIGHTS My daughter and her husband have to endure the heat dome thing going on in Germany for just a few more days before they move back to the States. AC is a precious commodity in Europe. So much so that some were pushing, shoving, and more, trying to buy an AC unit at a store this weekend. (Pic)

Too hot. Best “hot” line I ever heard comes in a song from a co-writer of mine, Wyn Varbel, who recorded a song titled “Hot”. One of the lines is, “Hotter than Cindy Crawford in a cedar-wood sauna.” That’s hot.

I SEE LITTLE PEOPLE Scientists say that eating new magic mushrooms makes folks see “gnomes” and little people, and they don’t know why.

Might be the reason one of the seven dwarves was named “Dopey.” Just a guess. .

QUOTE OF THE DAY From the late, and funny, Phyllis Diller:

“Marry a man your own age. As your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.”

TODAY My buddy Troy Engle is in town and reached out to me for a writing appointment today. Looking forward to that. Not only because I’ll get to write with him, but I’ll get to ask him how his job of playing several instruments in the Ricky Skaggs band is going…and I already know the answer.

Have a great Monday.

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Young and Restless Again

BILL BLOG Friday, June 26, 2026

Here comes the last weekend of June. It’s Friday, and we will hit a warm 87-degree high in Nashville today.

Hard to believe that next weekend will be the 4th of July weekend. I’m stocking up with sparklers already.

YESTERDAY I had a great songwriting session at North Chapel Music with artist Spencer Hatcher, his younger brother Connor, and my friend Steve Dean. We spent a little time celebrating that Spencer’s new song, “Hot Weather and Cold Beer,” will be released on July 3rd as his new summertime single, which the 4 of us wrote together.

And then we sat down and wrote a hardcore “country record that references the late great country artist Keith Whitley. Spencer is a big fan, so am I, so it was fun to chase that idea in the room yesterday. Spencer’s idea.

WHILE I WAS THERE My old publisher, Joe Cornett, who is now the publisher at North Chapel, where Spencer and Connor write, gifted me a bobblehead doll of Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott. And there’s a story behind that. (Pic)

I missed a trip to the Queen City a couple of weeks ago to see my Reds play a couple of games and had to cancel because I was down with that awful cold. One of the two games we had tickets for was Andrew Abbott bobblehead day. And Joe Dan, his Dad, and my friend Mark Bondurant, who were at the games, did me proud, and made sure they got home with one of these for my shelf.

Good to have good friends. Thanks, guys!

GOOD MUSIC NEWS The soap opera “Young and Restless” used part of a song I wrote with Shay Watson and Joe Nash a few weeks ago on the show titled “Small Price to Pay.” Yesterday, we found out that the show wants to play the song on another episode of the soap, so they issued us a second license. Cool. You just never know where a song might land. I’m on a soap opera…go figure.

SONG OF THE DAY The new Payton Howie “rockin’ song “Truck Bed” was released last night from this young, and talented Texas singer. Payton came to town a few months ago specifically to write some songs with some Nashville songwriters. Her management team reached out to my friend Brady Seals about writing with her, and then Brady invited me to join them. We had a lot of fun getting to know her, a lot of laughs, and the song “Truck Bed” was written that day. Thanks so much for recording what is the “Song of the Day” today.

EXPENSIVE APPLE Apple just jacked up its prices for iPads and Mac computers by as much as $500. It’s blaming the price increase on a shortage of memory chips. Might be time to buy stock again in paper and pens.

FITNESS JOKE

Me: “I can’t see you anymore. I’m not going to let you hurt me again.”

Trainer: “It was only one sit-up.”

CHECKING IN There’s a hotel on an island in China that’s about to open that will be entirely run by robots.

The receptionist? A robot. The maid? A robot. The person cooking your food? A robot.

Can’t imagine what kind of touch the masseuse will have.

QUOTE OF THE DAY From Oscar Wilde:

“The best way to appreciate your job is to imagine yourself without one.”

TODAY I’m writing with my long-time “Hits & Grins” partner, Victoria Venier, today. Been a bit. Victoria has been busy as she heads up the Gatlinburg Songwriters Festival, which I have to miss this year, unfortunately. That’s coming up in mid-August. So even if we don’t write a masterpiece today? We’ll have fun just catching up.

Have a great weekend!

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Dolly vs Buc-ee's

BILL BLOG Thursday, June 25, 2025

Thursday morning has arrived, and it’s warming up. A high of 89 today, and next week they are calling for “excessive heat”, with temperatures in the 90’s.

YESTERDAY I had a very fun co-write with Kevin Williamson from the Williamson Branch Family Band. We wrote a “summer” time, to tapper of a song, one that might fit this great musical family.

Kevin has become a proud grandpa recently, so we spent some time writing, catching up, and oh yeah, me listening to some Grandpa stories. A full day in the songwriting room with Kevin.

MUSIC NEWS It’s nice to see “Here Comes The Sun” getting some attention overseas on the radio. The song features “The French Family Band”, who recorded this song that I wrote with “Sonny” from the group and Angus Gill.

And we found out that the song is in the #2 slot on the Australian Country Music Chart right now as well.

Good news for sure!

LAST NIGHT My daughter and son-in-law gave me a Nashville Sounds baseball gift receipt for my birthday earlier this year, and last night I used it.

The home team lost, but it’s hard to beat a night at the ballpark.

SUBLTLE FREQUENCY Congrats to my wife, Kathy, who had a great book signing here in town for a ladies’ book club.

And every lady who attended had already bought her book. Don’t forget the book is available right now wherever you buy your books.

SHAKING Unreal back-to-back earthquakes hit Caracas, Venezuela, and officials fear as many as 164 deaths from it. Gosh. I can remember that South America was a semi-regular stop for my daughter when she was an American Airlines flight attendant. I’m sure she’s saddened to read this news. Prayers.

FUNNY A great Babylon Bee fake headline.

“Wise Men Actually Just Sent Gifts Using Free Prime Shipping, Scholars Now Believe.”

DOLLY Dolly Parton officially opened her Travel Center yesterday in the town of Cornersville, Tennessee, which is about an hour south of where I live. Dolly herself was there to cut the ribbon.

And of course, Dolly had a great quote. She said, “Well, I couldn’t leave it to the beavers.” Referring, of course, to Buc-ee’s.

Dolly’s Travel Center has a full buffet, but it’s hard to top the “brisket on the board” at Buc-ee’s. In fact, Buc-ee’s just announced that 15 more new Buc-ee’s are on the way.

Dolly’s place is open 6-9 weekdays. Why it’s not open from “9 to 5” is beyond me.

TACO FIGHTER A Maryland woman got so upset by her wait time at a Taco Bell that she flashed a gun and challenged the workers to come outside to fight. Now that’s a woman who is serious about tacos. I’m not sure if the jail she’s in will order in a couple of chimichangas for her or not.

QUOTE OF THE DAY From the late comedian Redd Foxx:

“Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.”

TODAY I’m back in a writing room with brothers Spencer and Connor Hatcher, and my buddy Steve Dean. We’ll be doing a little celebrating today as Spencer’s new single that we wrote together, “Hot Weather, Cold Beer,” is going to be released July 3rd…just in time for hot summer days. Excited to see what happens with this record.

Have a great Thursday!

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A New Summer Song

BILL BLOG Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Another Hump Day is here to get over; it’s Wednesday.

84 degrees for a high today in Music City, but by Sunday? 94.

YESTERDAY I spent a session online with a new songwriter who lives near Birmingham yesterday as a songwriting consultant for Songwriter Pro, a songwriting service offered by songwriter Brent Burns.

Once in a while, I’ll get a chance to offer advice to other folks who are learning the craft. Carrie Bishop, whom I worked with, has a full-time job, but loves to write when she can…poetry, and lyrics for songs. And she sent me three songs to look at she had written.

Songwriting is a very hard business to monetize these days, but it sure brings a lot of joy to many, as it does for Carrie. I could tell she loved it within a minute of chatting with her online.

So I hope I offered a “nugget” or two that she can use to help make her songwriting stronger. It was fun getting to know her.

A NEW SUMMER SONG Exciting. My young friend Spencer Hatcher, a great country singer, officially announced yesterday that his next single will be “Hot Summer, Cold Beer”, a song I wrote with him, his younger brother Connor, and my longtime friend Steve Dean. The song will be released on July 3rd. We’re all hoping it will be a big summer hit for Spencer.

HEAT DOME I mentioned here yesterday about how my daughter and son-in-law, stationed in Germany for just a few more weeks before moving to Arizona, were complaining about the oppressive heat over there. That’s because there is a heat dome over most of Europe right now, bringing serious heat.

And now some experts are saying it’s coming here soon. And with the temperature rising from 84 to 94 within just a few days here, they may be right.

Time to blow up the inflatable pool.

A MOMENT I’m surprised I did not hear the screaming from downtown Nashville last night all the way out to where we live, 30 minutes away.

That’s because Taylor Swift surprised a concert crowd by walking on stage and singing her hit “Love Story” with Lainey Wilson. A moment, for sure, especially for anyone who bought tickets to see Lainey’s show last night. Deafening noise from the crowd, as you can imagine, when she walked out. Only in Nashville, folks.

CAMP MOMENTS It’s that time of year when Summer Camps are open. And there are some odd options for you kids.

There’s a Zombie Survival summer camp. A Circus summer camp, and even a Spy summer camp.

But if you go to camp, and your sunglasses fall into the toilet, don’t try to retrieve them, as one guy did in California. He got stuck. And we can pretty much agree that there can’t be many worse places to get stuck in. Go buy another pair of sunglasses.

NEW SONGWRITER VENUE Only in Nashville, folks. They are going to build a Bluebird Café inside the new billion-dollar football stadium for our Tennessee Titans that will open in 2027.

The Bluebird Café is THE venue every songwriter wants to play at least once in their life. I’ve been lucky to be able to do that a few times, and it’s always the best experience. (Pic)

They will call this one the Bluebird East, and it will expose more tourists and fans to the craft of songwriting. Pretty cool idea.

QUOTE OF THE DAY From Robert Schimmel:

“I’m not ready to die. Period. To begin with, I cannot imagine a future without me in it. Can’t do it.”

TODAY I get to write with Kevin Williamson, the Dad in the talented bluegrass family Williamson Branch.

Have a great Wednesday!

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Back To The Writing Table

BILL BLOG Tuesday, June 23, 2026

And, it’s Tuesday, with a high of 79 today in Music City. Pleasant.

And it’s Prime Day as well, or as I like to call it, “Does anyone need any empty boxes day?”

YESTERDAY First day back at the songwriting table in almost two weeks after fighting off a cold. It felt good to create a new, fun song with my friend Katrina Burgoyne at my publishing company Billy Blue.

Katrina has been busy recording new music, playing shows, and being a wife, and a Mom to a young little boy she calls “Poppi.”

And she brought a saucy idea to the table that was fun putting together. Here’s another one to put on her fun pile of songs that you just might hear someday.

PREACHIN’ In Mississippi, a pastor just set a Guinness World Record by preaching for 96 hours! He preached all the way from Genesis to Revelation. Wow.

I grew up in a small Baptist Church in Missouri. Sunday, Sunday night, Wednesday night. If the church lights were on? Mom and Dad had my brothers and sisters and me sitting on a hard wooden pew.

And being young, I remember thinking even back then that Brother Tyler’s sermons lasted 96 hours, or so it seems. And he got nothing from Guinness…and I got a sore butt.

FUNNY LINE Comedian and late-night host Jon Stewart asks this question about what’s going on with the reflecting pool in Washington.

“Did they replace the water with Mountain Dew?”

HOT That would be most of Europe right now. I was talking to my daughter in Germany yesterday, who was talking about the temperature being up around 100. I reminded her that she’s getting ready to move to southern Arizona, where it was 108 yesterday.

And she reminded me that Europe doesn’t do AC well. Good point, and it’s true.

France, in particular, is sweltering with temperatures so high that officials are reminding folks to hydrate and avoid drinking alcohol. Which is hard for a country full of folks who order wine every time they sit down to eat. So yeah, in Paris they’re jumping into the water. (Pic)

SPEAKING OF WATER With the heat, the waterparks are busy. AI listed these waterparks as America’s best.

Universal Volcano Bay in Florida.

Schlitterbahn in Texas.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.

Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin.

And Splashin’ Safari in Indiana.

QUOTE OF THE DAY From Barbara Streisand:

“Life is too short. Start with dessert. (Can I get an amen?)

TODAY I’m doing a little online songwriting consultation today with someone who signed up for a session through my friend Brent Baxter’s songwriting service, “Songwriting Pro.” The client sent me a couple of songs to look at that we’ll be talking about today, in hopes that I have some advice they can use positively.

Have a great Tuesday!

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Father's Day Weekend

BILL BLOG Monday, June 22, 2026

Hello, Monday morning. Looking for an 81-degree high today in Nashville, and maybe some rain.

THE WEEKEND Hope you had a great Father’s Day weekend. I’m proud that Donald Payne Whyte was my Father.

And I’m proud to be the Father of this creative one, Heather Nicole Peterson.

My wife and I spent part of Father’s Day hooked up on the computer with our daughter and son-in-law, Casey, over in Germany, and we watched the movie “Michael,” which was really, really good. Michael Jaafar, who is Michael Jackson’s real-life nephew, played the lead role and was incredible. I can see an Oscar nomination.

The movie is a reminder of how incredibly gifted Michael was as an artist and creative genius.

AND IF YOU DIDN’T NOTICE It was a LONG Father’s Day, as it fell on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

BACK TO VIETNAM I received a note over the weekend from one of our Freedom Sings USA coordinators, Akami Ayers, who let me know she dropped by the visitation for Vietnam Vet Calvin Scott, whose Vietnam story I wrote into a song titled “Back To Vietnam.”

I wrote with Calvin during a retreat up in Marion, Illinois. Near the end of his life, after fighting in Vietnam, Calvin went back with the help of family and many friends to see the country again.

Akami sent me pictures showing they ran this VIDEO of me singing Calvin’s song.

One of the things Calvin did after retiring from the Army was to play taps at funerals for other fallen soldiers. He was a really good man, and anyone who knew Calvin will certainly miss him.

He was a really good man, and anyone who knew Calvin will certainly miss him. I sure do.

SUBTLE FREQUENCY My wife Kathy’s book “Subtle Frequency” is starting to garner great reviews from those who have bought and read it. This one came in over the weekend from a friend of ours who texted me, “Hey, tell Kathy that her book was amazing and it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read! I’m gonna write a review, and I’m begging for a sequel!!”

Love that. Kathy has a little book signing this week in Nashville, for the St. Phillips Episcopal Church Book Club, and even got a plug in a church bulletin. Hard to beat being in a danged church bulletin now.

THE COST OF LIVING The median price for a home has doubled since 2020. The median is now over $400,000.

Someone pointed out that the older generation’s dream was to pay off a mortgage. The younger generation’s dream is to get one.

QUOTE OF THE DAY From Arthur C. Clarke:

“I’m sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It’s just been too intelligent to come here.”

TODAY A back to normal day after being down with a cold for a long time. Today I’m writing with former Aussie Katrina Burgoyne, who is working on a new album that will include several songs we’ve written together including “Wife Trial.” Looking forward to creating something new today.

Have a great Monday!

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A Veteran's Song & Note

BILL BLOG Friday, June 19, 2026

Here comes a weekend. It’s Friday. A comfortable day is on tap for Nashville, with the high temperature being 83.

YESTERDAY It was a day of feeling much better than I have in a long while, with that lingering cough and cold. I think it finally had enough of me and moved on. Good riddance. I’ve never cancelled so many events on my calendar at one time, but by the time Monday rolls around, things should return to normal for sure. Grateful for that.

I certainly missed being in the town of Heyworth, Illinois, for our Freedom Sings USA event that wrapped up last night with my four songwriter buddies singing songs they’d written with veterans up there.

4 more great veteran songs have been added to the list, and that’s such a great thing. And I felt really bad when I got a note from some friends in southern Missouri who host Parrot Head concerts at their home, who drove all the way up to Heyworth to take in their first Freedom Sings Concert, thinking I would be there. Mark and Colleen Fuchs, I’m so sorry about that!

But, they did send me a note telling me how great an experience it was, so that made me feel better.

A FREEDOM SINGS NOTE I want to share this wonderful email I received last night that also made me feel better about missing the Heyworth trip because of being sick. This is from Larry Gaines, a veteran I wrote with in Durham, North Carolina who served in the Army. His song we wrote is titled “Grace”. And this is the note Larry sent me.

Hello Bill, I hope all is well with you & your family. I am currently in Nova Scotia with a tour group. The song GRACE has been shared in Vietnam, Canada, South Korea, & throughout the US with many veterans and their families (Christians & non-Christians). I gave our tour guide permission to share it with other tour guides who provide tours throughout the world! Nothing but positive feedback. Take care. GRACE & peace. Larry Gaines

That’s one of the reasons I’m so proud to be part of Freedom Sings USA. Being able to create something memorable for one of our veterans.

GAS I did see the price was at $3.44 a gallon at my local gas pump yesterday, after being up to 4 bucks a gallon or more. Might have something to do with the reopening of the George “Strait” of Hormuz I mentioned yesterday. Or not.

AN OLD FUNNY I was watching a clip from the old Johnny Carson show last night when Red Skelton was his guest. It occurred to me that most of today’s generation won’t remember Red, or the Red Skelton TV show, which was sketch-driven, and fueled by characters like “Clem Kadiddlehopper that Red created.

But he started his career in vaudeville, telling jokes and being a clown. In the clip I saw, he asked Carson, “Where do they tell people in hell to go?”

WORLD CUP Those crazy soccer fans who are here from all over the world have found Ranch Dressing to be to their liking. So much so that they are packing bottles in their bags to take back home. So much so that TSA is reminding them that only 3.4 ounces is allowed, and to not “chug” it. They’re “chugging” ranch dressing?! Wow.

I don’t think the late Roger Miller was writing about ranch dressing when he wrote his classic “Chug-A- Lug.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY From Anthony G. Oettinger:

“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.” (I don’t even understand that…but like it.)

THE WEEKEND Nothing I gotta do this weekend, but then next week it’s back to normal, as I’m feeling “normal” again!

Have a great weekend!

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George Strait Strait Anyone?

BILL BLOG Thursday, June 18, 2026

And now, it’s Thursday morning. An 87-degree high is expected here in Nashville today.

YESTERDAY Yesterday was a pretty good day, as I finally feel like the worst part of this cough that I’ve had for so long may finally be subsiding. Grateful to feel even a little better this morning, and not so much “under the weather.”

It got me thinking, why do we always say, “I’m under the weather” when we don’t feel well? That must mean we NEVER feel good, because aren’t we under the weather ALL the time?

MUSICAL PRESENT I got a nice gift “texted” to me from my Paris, Missouri, friends Becky and Will Denton yesterday.

Becky just recorded a very fun summertime song called “Barefeet” that the two of us wrote a couple of summers back, that Will did an outstanding job of playing on, and producing, A catchy toe-tapper for sure. And, she even got a little bit of her young daughter’s voice in the mix, which is really cool.

They will be releasing the song on June 26…soon! And I’ll share it here as soon as it becomes available.

BLUEGRASS AWARDS Second round ballot voting is going on right now for the “best” of everything bluegrass. I have some rooting interest in Caroline Owens, who is up for several awards, including the “Song of the Year” for “Telluride,” which I wrote with Andrea Pearson.

And my dear friends Darin & Brooke Aldridge are also up for multiple awards.

And that includes the category of “Album of the Year” that I have two songs on, “Wildflower Too” that I wrote with the duo, and “Where You’ll Find Me” written with Lauren Mascitti and Kristen Bearfield.

KIND OF BLEAK A Fox News Poll reveals that most voters doubt that the new agreement with Iran will stop them from building nukes.

In a separate poll I took of country music fans, 80% think the “Strait of Hormuz” should be renamed to the “George Strait of Hormuz.” All of those in favor…

TAKE A TENNIS BALL Some who travel a lot pack a tennis ball. They believe it helps remove stress and soreness by squeezing it or rubbing it against sore places on your body. A little cheap flight therapy if you will.

Or, you can do as I do. Pack a yoga mat, throw it down in the airplane aisle, and do some “downward dog” poses while the rest of the passengers cheer you on, or not.

THE BIG APPLE PARADE The Knicks will be celebrated with a big parade in NYC today. How big will it be? Well, the city is deploying 10,000 officers to help keep order. Geez.

Wonder how many officers will be deployed when they hold a parade for the Championship Pickle Ball players?

QUOTE OF THE DAY From comedian-actor Kevin James:

“There’s no better feeling in the world than a warm pizza box on your lap.”

TODAY I should be in Heyworth, Illinois, right now getting ready to sit down with a veteran to write their story into a song that will be performed in concert. I had to cancel that trip because of being sick, so I’ll be thinking about my great friends and co-writers who are going to do an incredible job today, writing with their veterans, Steve Dean, Bobby Tomberlin, Bill DiLuigi, and Minnie Murphy. I’m sure missing not being there with them.

Have a great Thursday!

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A Summer Single Coming

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.

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)

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 an impressive display, 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.

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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