Bill Anderson's Blog

August 1, 2024

Hi Gang:

You might want to get comfortable, pour yourself a big cup of coffee, and get ready to read for awhile. There’s so much going on in Whisperworld right now that my letter is bound to be longer than usual. Thanks for joining us.

First off, our new EP titled “Forevermore” is being released in just a few more days, August 16th to be exact, and I can’t wait to share these new songs and new music with you. Here’s a look at the titles, the songwriters, and the cover art:

1) I Love Us  (Bill Anderson-Steve Dorff)
2) All Of Me Loves All Of You (Bill Anderson)
3) The Last One I’ll Forget (Bill Anderson-Steve Dorff)
4) Brand New Every Day (Bill Anderson-Steve Dorff)
5) Yesterday, Today, And Forevermore (Bill Anderson-Steve Dorff-Bobby Tomberlin)
6) Stay Gone (Bill Anderson-Steve Dorff)

It takes a lot of nerve for someone my age to submit to a new photo session, but Dennis Carney is a master behind the lens. He has taken the cover pictures for many of my albums over the years, and he worked his magic one more time on this one.  Thanks, Dennis! You are THE best!

As you can tell from the titles, this is a collection of positive love songs that I hope you’ll want to share with the special people in your life. I’ve had several people tell me the music reminds them of a modern-day version of “Still.” I take that as a pretty nice compliment. And for once, I will confess to having a favorite among the cuts. I’m proud of them all, but “The Last One I’ll Forget” has rapidly become one of my favorite songs I have ever written. Hopefully, it will become a favorite of yours as well.

span>OK, so what else is going on? Let’s start with my adopted hometown, Commerce, Georgia, and our big show coming up down there on September 14th. I am really pumped about it, not only because it will be my first concert appearance in over four years, but because of my friends who are giving of their time and talents to come be with us.

Hall of Fame member, Charlie McCoy, star of HeeHaw and the Grand Ole Opry and one of the greatest instrumentalists of all time, will be there….as will “Miss Country Soul”, Jeannie Seely, the lady who has made more Grand Ole Opry appearances than anyone in history….PLUS the most exciting and talented group of young bluegrass pickers and singers you’ve ever witnessed, Cutter & Cash And Kentucky Grass. When I say “young,” they are 14 to 17 years in age and talented beyond belief. My Po’ Folks Band and I will round out the program.

We’ll have a meet ‘n greet session in the afternoon and the big show that evening. All proceeds will go to the Bill Anderson College Scholarship Fund at Commerce High School, helping provide higher educational funds for young graduates with an interest in furthering their study of music. You can get your tickets and any additional information you might need by clicking HERE. I sure hope lots of you will come be with us.

For any of you who might be in Nashville in late August, Bobby Tomberlin, Buddy Cannon, and I will do a songwriters night in the round at the famed Bluebird Cafe on August 29th.

I am also being honored a couple of times this month with special presentations related to my 60-plus year career in country music. On August 19th, an organization called “Helping A Hero” will be honoring me at the Grand Ole Opry House with their Lifetime Achievement Award citing “your extraordinary career, patriotism, and service to our country’s service members and veterans.” I will accept this award with much pride and humility. 

And I told you last month about the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters recognizing me the following night by presenting me their annual Impact Award for my work over the years related to radio and television. Each of these awards is very special, and I truly appreciate them both.

Again this past month, unfortunately, we have suffered some significant losses within our country music community including the passing of Rusty Golden, son of William Lee Golden, and Joe Bonsall, the incredible tenor voice and onstage sparkplug of the Oak Ridge Boys. Joe and I were especially close due to our mutual love for music and baseball, and I’ll miss our back and forth text messages about his Philadelphia Phillies and my Atlanta Braves. My deepest condolences to William Lee and his family as well as to Joe’s wife, Mary, and their two daughters. Our circle is still unbroken, but, sadly, it keeps getting smaller.

I appreciate your continued support of everything related to me – my songs, my recordings, my appearances, and especially my family. Have a great month, and we’ll see you back here again in September, shortly after Labor Day. Thanks again for everything!

1) I grew up in central Illinois, and listened to the WLS Barn Dance out of Chicago. My favorite stars were Homer & Jethro, Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers, and Lula Belle & Scotty Wiseman. I was wondering if you ever played the Barn Dance and/or traveled with any of the stars from there?

The Barn Dance on WLS went away in 1957, when the station switched to a rock ‘n roll format, and I didn’t come to Nashville until a couple of years later. Although the show continued on WGN until 1968, I was never invited to appear. I did tour some with Homer & Jethro and with Red Foley, but I think by that time they had both left the Barn Dance. It was a great show and holds a prominent place in country music history.

2) I’ve always been curious as to how someone like you, who has had a successful career performing and songwriting, protects his songs and ensures the “mailbox money” keeps coming. Do you have people help you with making those deals or have you done a lot of that yourself through the years?

The tracking of record sales, streaming, and song performances is done through the publisher of the song or their assigns, and through the Performing Rights Organization that licenses the song, in my case BMI. They do the day to day work and account to me twice every year (the publisher) and every quarter (BMI). If I tried to do that kind of work myself I’d never have time to write songs or do anything else.

3) My mother-in-law shared with us two letters from WSM showing that she performed twice at the Junior Grand Ole Opry back in 1956. Would you happen to have any information about the days of the Junior Opry or give us any insight as to where there might be an archive of these performances?

The Junior Grand Ole Opry was a live Saturday morning radio show on WSM back in the 50’s that originated in the station’s Studio C before a live audience. It was formatted to feature young (I don’t know the age limits) performers who aspired to sing and play country music. I once applied to be on the show with my Avondale Playboys band around 1954 or ’55, and was accepted. I had to cancel, though, when some of my musicians couldn’t or wouldn’t make the trip to Nashville. As to where any of those old shows might be archived I would have no idea.

4) Our Question Of The Month comes from Craig in Utah. He writes, “I love to sing, especially good country music. But how do I learn to sing like me and not try to sound like the original artist?

I can really relate to this question, because as a teenager I faced the same situation. If I was singing a Hank Williams song, I tried to sing it like Hank. Or Faron Young, Ernest Tubb, Webb Pierce or the other stars of the day. I only began to sing like myself when I started to write my own songs. With an original song that I’d never heard anybody else sing, I was forced to sing it like Bill Anderson. I would suggest you try the same thing. Write your own songs so there’s nothing else for you to copy. Then you HAVE to be original. Good luck.

Quickies: Where is Jimmy Lance? I always enjoyed listening to his guitar playing perfection on your song, “Golden Guitar.” Jimmy was the original guitar player in my Po’ Boys band back in the sixties. Afterward, he worked many years for Eddy Arnold. He passed away a couple of years ago. I think everyone would agree that Patsy Cline was one of the greatest. Did you ever share the stage with her and did you ever record any songs together? Patsy and I had the same booking agent, the late Hubert Long, so we worked quite a few concert dates together. And, of course, we performed on many of the same nights at the Opry. We never recorded together, however, even though we were on the same record label. I just watched Nashville Public Television’s wonderful documentary on the life of Minnie Pearl. Did you often appear with Minnie on the Opry and did you ever see her socially away from the Opry?  Yes, Minnie and I were often on the Opry together, and I remember what a thrill it always was to introduce her to the audience then step aside and watch her perform. As much as we loved one another, we seldom were together socially. Our contrasting schedules basically prevented it. Have you ever done any duets with your bluegrass friends? Not as much as I would have liked. The Osborne Brothers sang with me on my recording of “Philadelphia Lawyer” many years ago, and I appeared in a video with Dailey & Vincent (“Feel Good Music”), but that’s about it. In July, 1961, when you were first inducted into the Grand Ole Opry did you ever dream you would someday be the Opry’s longest ongoing member? Heavens, no! Back then I just hoped they wouldn’t lose my phone number and would ask me to be on the next week’s show!  Would you rather be remembered as a songwriter or as a performing/recording artist? As Mac Wiseman used to sing, it would be “sweet to be remembered” in any capacity. I imagine if anyone remembers me after I’m gone, though, it will be for the songs I have written. And that’s fine with me.

I hope you will remember to send me any country music related questions you might have so we can do this again in our September newsletter. Send them to me at askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll do my best to answer. If yours is chosen our Question Of The Month, you will receive any item of your choice from our online store free of charge. Stay curious, and I’ll look forward to hearing from you soon.

My longtime traveling companion and singing partner, Mary Lou Turner, returned to Nashville on July 20th and joined me onstage at the Grand Ole Opry. We sang our #1 hit song from 1976, “Sometimes,” and it sure brought back some good memories. Mary Lou, who now resides in Branson, Missouri, was part of my road show for over seven years back in the seventies, and we shared many stages and good times together. After our recent appearance, Opry manager, Dan Rogers, invited Mary Lou back for another appearance next year during the Opry’s 100th birthday celebration. We’re both looking forward to that!

It’s hard to know if the late Oak Ridge Boy, Joe Bonsall, and I spent more time talking about music or baseball during his lifetime, but we loved laughing and sharing stories about both. Here we are taking part in one of our Fan Fair softball tournaments back in the seventies, and laughing all the way. I have no idea who won the game we were playing nor why I was wearing an MCA Records shirt and Joe was wearing an MCA hat, but it didn’t matter. With Joe it was all about the fun, and we had lots of that. He will be remembered and missed for a long, long time.

I first became personally acquainted with the Gospel Hall of Fame family, the Nelons, when they came to sing at our Church By The Lake (top picture) in 2017. I knew quite a bit about them beforehand, though, because the bass player in my Po’ Folks Band, James Gordon Freeze, had worked as a part of the Rex Nelon Singers just before coming to work for me in the early nineties. I found out as I got to know the Nelons better that one of their dreams was to appear on the Grand Ole Opry (bottom picture), and I helped to facilitate their first appearance there in 2018. Like the rest of the world, I was shocked and saddened to learn of the deaths of three of their members in a plane crash July 26th. They left us lots of good music and, for me, some very special memories. May they rest in peace.

Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys; his wife, Mary; and Bill Anderson at a softball game to benefit muscular dystrophy, held at Nashville’s Herschel Greer Stadium, 1983. Anderson played for Conway Twitty’s team, the Twitty Birds. Photo by Raeanne Rubenstein.

Along with the rest of the world I was saddened this morning to learn of the passing of the multi-talented Joe Bonsall.

Joe was a great singer, the consummate performer, and a dear friend. We not only had country music in common, but he loved baseball just as much as I do, and we had many a friendly discussion as to which was the better team…his Philadelphia Phillies or my Atlanta Braves. I won’t say any money ever changed hands, but I won’t deny it either.

I will think of Joe and miss him with every high note I hear sung and every crack of the bat that echoes across the summer skies. Rest in peace, my friend. You were truly one-of-a-kind.

Jeremy Tepper was one of those people who does the heavy lifting behind the scenes in our music business. Like many, he didn’t stand in the spotlight or bask in the glory, but Sirius/XM satellite radio is going to have a hard time moving forward without him. He was the architect of two of their most successful channels, Willie’s Roadhouse and the Outlaw Channel. He was a music lover from head to toe, and it showed in all that he said and did. Here he is shown with me and Jeannie Seely outside the S/XM performance studio in Nashville. Jeannie and I both thought the world of Jeremy, personally as well as professionally. He will be missed for a long, long time.

I have always enjoyed visiting with country music fans one-on-one…just talking, sharing some stories and some laughs…like I was doing when this picture was snapped in our Opry Circle Room prior to an Opry performance. If you ever get the chance to add a Circle Room visit to your Grand Ole Opry experience, I can highly recommend it. Who knows…we might get to shake ‘n howdy and take a selfie together!

My son, Jamey, who is a pilot for Delta Air Lines, and I happened to converge unexpectedly inside the Atlanta airport a couple of years ago, and this picture surfaced last month on Father’s Day. He was working and I was heading somewhere when we bumped into one another. He’s a special son, and I’m proud of the fact that he has gotten to live his dream flying the airplanes he loves so much. I’m jealous, though. As I am typing this on a 90-plus degree day in Nashville, he is winging his way to Honolulu!   

Hi Gang:

Welcome to our July newsletter. I appreciate your spending a few minutes with us as we continue to swelter in the summer heat and prepare for another big Independence Day celebration on Thursday.  I wish for each of you a safe and happy 4th of July.

Our team here in Whisperville is hard at work putting the finishing touches on our 6-song EP of new music titled, “Forevermore,” which is scheduled to be released in just a few weeks….August 16th to be exact. Crystal Gayle is coming in tomorrow to sing on one of the songs with me. I think our voices will have an interesting blend. This is always an exciting time in our business…sort of like the days before a new baby is born.

I just found out a few days ago news of a very nice and unexpected honor that will be coming my way a few days after my record is released. The Tennessee Association of Broadcasters has named me the recipient of their 2024 Impact Award, presented each year to someone in our state whom they feel has contributed greatly to the overall broadcasting profession. I don’t know a lot of the specifics just yet, but I guess they figure my 63-years on the Grand Ole Opry count for something, along with my hosting several radio and TV shows over the years.The presentation will be in conjunction with the TAB’s annual convention here in Nashville on August 20th. I am very honored and humbled by this recognition, and will share more with you as I learn more myself.

Looking back over my shoulder into June for a minute, I hope all the dads among you had a great Father’s Day and got to spend it with the special people in your lives. My daughters, Terri and Jenni, went to church with me that morning and we enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch together afterward. My son, Jamey, was off flying a big Delta jet across the skies somewhere and was missed. He came home the following Tuesday, though, and we got together then. My grandson, Blake, returned safely from his 5-week mission trip to the Czech Republic the same day, so there were lots of smiles around the Anderson house.

And speaking of family, my granddaughter, Hallie, who turned 16 in May, spent a week last month attending the annual Songwriter’s Camp at the Country Music Hall of Fame. She and 23 other young aspiring writers from all across the country gathered to learn more about songwriting, and wrapped up their week with a Saturday concert in the Hall’s Ford Theater. It was Hallie’s very first time onstage playing guitar and singing a song she wrote. I was there popping the buttons off my shirt. She did very well, and her ol’ PawPaw couldn’t have been prouder.

June was also, unfortunately, a sad month in that several of my friends and co-workers passed away. The first disc jockey to ever play a Bill Anderson song on the radio, Red Healan, died down in Georgia at age 96. We lost the behind-the-scenes guru of Willie’s Roadhouse radio, Jeremy Tepper, who died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 60. He was a brilliant man and a dear friend. Wayne Hobbs, who played steel guitar in my band for a year back in the 90’s, died of pancreatic cancer on June 10th. He was 72. And Buzz Cason, the wearer of many hats in the Nashville music community and a co-writing buddy of mine, passed at age 84. They will all be missed.

July is a special month for me in that I will be marking my 63rd anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member on the 15th. Our Opry appearances will be July 5th, 13th, 16th, and 20th. Mary Lou Turner, my longtime duet partner, will be joining me onstage July 20th.

Have a great month, stay as cool as you can, and we’ll see you back here in August. As always, thanks for everything.

STOP THE PRESSES!

It has just been confirmed that our Bill Anderson & Friends concert in Commerce, Georgia, is a “GO” for Saturday September 14th, and we are making the first tickets available to our fan club members only!!

Beginning today, July 1st, and continuing until July 6th, tickets will be held for only our members and will not be available to the general public. You can get all the information by clicking HERE.

I hope lots of you will plan to join us for our first full concert in over four years inside the most special place I know, the Bill Anderson Performing Arts Center at Commerce High School. We’ll be announcing some special guest stars and special events later, but right now get those tickets and the best seats while they are available.

Proceeds are earmarked for the Bill Anderson Scholarship fund benefiting high school graduates who intend to pursue a music major in college. 

See you in Commerce!!

1) Did you ever meet Cindy Walker or record any of her music?

I knew Cindy quite well and, in fact, two days before I received this question I took part in a PBS documentary being filmed about her life. I think it will air in the fall. The only song of hers that I remember recording was a country version of “In The Misty Moonlight.” She once wrote a song especially for me, though, that unfortunately I never got around to cutting. There is talk of a new album of her music to accompany the documentary, and if there is, I’m hoping to finally record that song after all these years.

2) It’s hard to imagine artists like George Strait, Alan Jackson, and Hank Williams, of course, not wearing a cowboy type hat, and yet others like you never do. My question is who decides if a western hat is appropriate? Is it the artist? An image consultant? I once stared at a photo of Hank Williams without one and thought he is human just like me.

All artists are human just like you, believe me! Back in my day, the artists that I knew decided for themselves whether or not to wear a hat on stage…Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter, Eddy Arnold, etc.  In recent years, however, I highly suspect that image consultants have become involved. I say that because, if you notice, no two artists’ hats look alike. Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, George Strait, Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson, Clint Black and others each have their own individual shapes, colors, and styles. I doubt they took the time to figure all that out for themselves. They probably had help. The newer generation, however, has mostly traded western hats for baseball caps…most of them worn backwards. You can tell I’m not a current big star because when I wear a ball cap, the brim faces to the front. And guess what…it keeps the sun out of my eyes!

3) Can we send your grandson, Gabe, a letter? I have prayed for him in the past and thought he was doing good. I’d like to send him a card if it’s o.k.

That’s very nice…thank you. I’m sure Gabe would enjoy hearing from you and knowing that you are keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. You can mail your cards or letters to Gabe Anderson, P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076, and I’ll see that he gets your message. Thanks again.

Our July Question of The Month comes from Sandra in Alabama. She writes, “Everybody seems to write songs about pretty women and young love. Have you ever written a song about an older lady or ‘senior love’? Our ways may not be young & carefree, but we still have heart & feelings.”

When I first read your question I thought of Ronnie McDowell’s hit from 1981, “Older Women (Make Beautiful Lovers)” It reached #1 in the charts, so lots of people obviously agree with you. I wrote and recorded a song called “If Anything Ever Happened To You” a few years back about a couple marking their 50th wedding anniversary, and I’ve written others. My upcoming EP, “Forevermore,” has several songs that address the subject of “mature love.” I hope you’ll enjoy them when you hear them.

Quickies: Music people like you usually love many types of music. If you were to listen to music other than country, what would it be? You’re right in that I like many types of music with traditional country being my favorite. But I also listen to some bluegrass, some gospel, and for relaxation I like smooth jazz. Now that we are in 2014, when Bill Anderson listens to music in his home is he listening to the radio, streaming services, CD’s, or LP’s? Yes. And you left out the music services on TV, although those may actually be considered “streaming”. I listen to them all. Your song, “The Tip(s) Of My Fingers” has been recorded both as “Tip” and “Tips”. Roy Clark’s original Capitol recording has it listed as “Tips”, but when he re-recorded it for Dot Records it was listed as “Tip.” Did it just depend on who took down the song titles for the album? I guess so, and while we’re on that subject another fan writes: Who had the biggest hit on “Tips Of My Fingers?” According to Billboard magazine, which is not the only source for chart numbers, but is one of the most respected, Eddy Arnold and Steve Wariner both had versions that topped out at #3 in the charts. My original version reached #7, Roy Clark’s version reached #10, and Jean Shepard’s climbed to #16. I think it’s about time one of today’s hot, young artists recorded it, don’t you? Steve’s record is the most recent and it’s been over 30-years ago now. There’s a whole new generation that needs to hear that song!  I just heard that James Gregory passed away. I saw him on Country’s Family Reunion with you and thought he was very funny. What did you think of his humor? He was often called “The Funniest Man In America,” and you won’t get any argument from me! He was hilarious. Where was the largest crowd you ever performed for? Was it overseas somewhere? No, I don’t think so. It was probably when I sang at halftime of the Georgia vs. Tennessee football game in 1972. There were over 80,000 people in the stands in Athens, Georgia, that day, and most of them stayed in their seats when we performed. Will there ever be a Country’s Family Reunion with any of the artists like Reba, Alan Jackson, and others of that generation? I doubt it. Larry Black, who owns the title and the concept, has retired and is not producing shows anymore. For the record, let me say that Alan and Reba and many others of “that generation” were invited to appear on our shows many times, but most of them declined the invitation. It would have been great to have had them.

And it would be great to get a question or two from you for our August newsletter. Send whatever you might be curious about to askbill@billanderson.com and be watching for my response. If yours is chosen our Question Of The Month, you’ll win any item of your choice from our online store. And, by the way, some new items are coming soon! Thanks, and I’ll be looking forward to hearing from you!

NOTHING MAKES ME SMILE QUITE LIKE A NIGHT ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY WHERE THIS FIRST PICTURE WAS TAKEN.

AND OPRY NIGHTS ARE MADE ALL THAT MUCH BETTER WHEN FRIENDS GATHER TOGETHER…AND PARTICULARLY WHEN THE NEW, YOUNG ARTISTS MIX WITH THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN AROUND AWHILE. IN THIS PICTURE, NEWCOMER EMILY ANN ROBERTS VISITS WITH RICKY SKAGGS, VINCE GILL (BOTH OF WHOM LATER SANG WITH HER ONSTAGE), SONGWRITER/PRODUCER, JERRY SALLEY, AND ME PRIOR TO A RECENT SATURDAY NIGHT PERFORMANCE.

OUR THIRD PICTURE FOR THIS MONTH WAS TAKEN AT THE DOWNTOWN OFFICES OF UNIVERSAL/UMG RECORDS FOLLOWING A MEETING REGARDING MY UPCOMING RECORD RELEASE. LEFT TO RIGHT: MY MANAGER, LEE WILLARD; PRODUCER/SONGWRITER, STEVE DORFF; UMG NASHVILLE PRESIDENT, CINDY MABE, AND YOURS TRULY. THE LABEL PLANS TO RELEASE OUR NEW MUSIC AUGUST 16TH.

Hi Gang:

Well, it’s not “officially” Summer just yet, but I’ve always felt that Summer starts after Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. Maybe it’s because Summer was defined that way when I was in school. Regardless, Memorial Day is in our rear view mirrors now (I hope you enjoyed yours!) and we’re calling it summertime in Whisperville. Welcome to our first newsletter of the season!

Another sure-fire way to know it’s summer is that CMA Fest will be upon us here in a few days. Country music fans from all around the world have already begun pouring into Nashville to celebrate with concerts, food, and fun. I plan to appear on the Grand Ole Opry Tuesday night June 4th for two shows, but other than that I’m laying low this year. I’ve taken part in the event that used to be known as Fan Fair for over fifty years. I’m glad to let the young folks have their moment in the sun (and the rain) this go ’round. (Our other Opry dates this month are June 18th and June 22nd.)

I do have a little bit of news on the musical front, though, in that we’ve settled on a title for my upcoming new record release. It will be a six-song EP of love songs titled “Forevermore.” Our graphics crew is busy designing the artwork to accompany the music, and hopefully we’ll have something to show you soon. The release date will be August 16th. I’m really proud of this project, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

I’ve also got another bit of exciting news. I haven’t worked a concert date on the road since February, 2020, just before COVID hit. I’ve never said I was “retired,” but going back on tour has not been at or near the top of my bucket list. However, an interesting opportunity has presented itself, and I may just take advantage of it.

The folks in my adopted hometown of Commerce, Georgia, have informed me that in September the Commerce High School football team will play the 1,000th game in school history. They feel this calls for a celebration, and they want me to come celebrate with them. You know the auditorium at Commerce High is called the Bill Anderson Performing Arts Center, and if I were to do a concert again there couldn’t be a more perfect place.

Nothing is definite but it might just happen. While the details are being ironed out, you might want to circle Saturday September 14th on your calendar…and start checking the mileage from where you live to Commerce. It sure would be fun to see a whole bunch of you again. Stay tuned…I’ll be telling you more as the time approaches.

On the personal side of things our longtime fiddle player and background singer, Kenzie Wetz, has announced her engagement to Joshua Donnici of Kansas City, and they have set their wedding date for December 1st. Wedding bells are going to sound like an alarm clock going off around here in the upcoming months. My granddaughter, Caroline, is getting married October 13th, Kenzie on December 1st, and my grandson, Blake, next April 27th.

On a not so happy note, my grandson, Gabe, has had a return of the cancer that all of us had hoped was gone for good. So many of you have prayed for him as he has battled this disease over the years, and your prayers are needed and welcomed again. He will be beginning treatment soon. Please pray that it will be successful. I’ll keep you posted.

Thanks for everything, and my best to you all.

1) When you wrote the song, “Cold Hard Facts Of Life,” was it intended for Porter Wagoner specifically or were there other possibilities?

As I have said many times in this column, I seldom set out to write songs “for” somebody. I just try to write the best song I can…tell the story I’m trying to tell the best I can…and then let the chips fall where they may. With this particular song, though, there weren’t a bunch of folks lining up to record a song about drinking, infidelity, and mass murder. Porter was never afraid to go “dark” with his music, so he was the first person I thought to pitch it to. Fortunately, he liked it, and the rest is history.

2) I have an 8-year old grandson who is very talented at singing. He can hear a song and then sing it later word for word. He loves to sing. I was wondering if we should try to do singing lessons.

If he loves to sing and he has some natural talent, sure, what would it hurt? Although his voice will change in a few years, you’ll find out pretty quick just how much he really loves to sing and what his talent level might actually be. Just don’t push him so hard that he doesn’t get to be a “kid” and do the normal things that kids all do. He can develop his musical talent while he plays ball, makes good grades in school, and discovers girls. Good luck to him…and to you!

3) Did you ever write a song with, or for, Hank Snow?

I never wrote a song “with” Hank, but that might have been fun. He wrote some great ones in his time. The only song of mine that I know he recorded was one called, “I Wish It Was Mine.” Hank was a perfectionist in many ways, and my title was grammatically incorrect. So when his version came out it was called, “I Wish It WERE Mine.” I thought that sounded a bit “stiff” and “stilted,” but I wasn’t about to tell Mr. Snow how I felt. I simply thanked him for recording it and let it go.

4) Question Of The Month: This month’s question comes from Ron in Illinois. He asks, “After so many years in the music business, how do you deal with the ups and downs in your career?”

Life in the entertainment business is chocked full of insecurities. People in my profession are constantly wondering: “Am I only as good as my last performance? My last movie? My last recording?” And, as a result, every entertainer I have ever known, including myself, fights those crazy ups and downs that you are referring to here. I have tried to handle it by trying to never get too high when good things happen and not letting myself get too low when things don’t go the way I’d like. I’m better at it now than I was in the beginning of my career, but I still have to stay on guard. My faith also plays a large role in how I react to things. I firmly believe that God holds my hand, and that He will lead me to the places He wants me to go in His timing. Being assured of that helps keep the playing field level for me as much as anything.

Quickies: Are turquoise wrist watch bands and rings still fashionable with the Opry artists? It seems back in the 70’s and 80’s every artist was dripping in silver and turquoise. I still see a few of those items around the Opry, but they are no more popular with Opry artists these days than they are with the public in general. They seemed to lose mass favor…other than perhaps in the southwestern part of the country…in the late 80’s, and they haven’t shown signs of coming back since. Was there ever an answer song to George Jones’ “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes?” If not, you should write it! Thank you. I don’t know of an answer song that’s been written, and I’m not sure just how one might be put together. The original song posed an interesting question that might just be better left for time to answer. Have you ever had someone get a tattoo that refers to you? I have one that is one of my favorite songs of yours, “I Love You Drops.” Only my family and closest friends know what it means and why it’s there. Thank you. I won’t ask where it’s located. I’ll just say I am honored. Was the Bill Anderson who sang the theme song in a movie called “Stranger On The Run” with Henry Fonda, Anne Baxter, and Dan Duryea “our” Bill Anderson? If so, how did that all come about? If you mean was it me, I confess that it was. The folks in Hollywood wanted a Nashville artist to sing the song, and I happened to be in the studio working on some new music with Owen Bradley when he got word that they wanted him to produce it. He asked if I’d like to be the one to sing it, and I told him I would…soon as I did a bit of a re-write on the song. I did, and we cut it. The film was released in the late sixties as one of the very first…if not THE first…movie ever made strictly for television.

You sent me some fun questions this month….now let’s see if we can’t top it for July! If you’re curious about anything related to me, my career, or country music in general, let me know what it is. I’ll try to feed your curiosity as best as I can. Send your question or questions to askbill@billanderson.com. If yours is chosen our Question of The Month, you will receive any item of your choice from our online store free of charge. I’ll look forward to hearing from you, and I’ll see you back here again next month.