Bill Anderson's Blog
November 3, 2025
November 3, 2025
Hi Gang:
Before I get into some of the exciting things that are happening in Whisperworld this month, let me take a minute to thank each and every one of you who reached out to me on my birthday a couple of days ago.
I don’t know that I’ve ever received more e-mails, text messages, phone calls, cards, letters, and personal greetings than I’ve gotten this year, and I assure you I read and listened to every single one. It’s so special to feel the love and warmth you continue to share with me and, again, I thank you all.
Boy, this really is going to be an exciting month. I guess the highlight for me will be the actual 100th Birthday Celebration at the Grand Ole Opry on Friday night November 28th. We’ve been celebrating Opry100 all year long, but the first Opry show actually went out on the airwaves on November 28, 1925, and we’re planning to honor the occasion with two very special and sold-out shows on that specific night.
I’m going to sing part of my re-written version of “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” early in the show, and hopefully get the audience into the spirit of the occasion by encouraging them to sing along with me. There will be at least 25 Opry members on hand that night and I can’t wait! My other Opry appearances this month are scheduled for Nov. 8th and 15th.
Meantime, the 59th annual CMA Awards Show will be presented and televised live on ABC-TV on November 19th, the 2025 BMI Dinner honoring songwriters will take place the night before, and the “Christmas At The Grand Ole Opry” movie that we filmed here back in August will air on the Hallmark Channel November 29th. I hope lots of you will be tuned in, but as I warned earlier, don’t blink or you’ll miss my part!
By now most of you have probably heard that Willie Nelson’s recording of a new song I helped to write has been released, and I’m starting to hear from folks who are telling me how much they like it. It’s called “Christmas Love Song,” and hopefully it will get you and the special people in your life into the spirit of the season. I co-wrote it with Bobby Tomberlin and Marv Green, and you can download it from all the online places where you get your music these days. I’m told there will be a lyric video coming November 18th, and I’ll be anxious to see that!
I’ll be popping up these next few weeks on several podcasts that I’ve recently recorded, and we’ll be posting them on our website and on our Facebook page as they become available. I also “pop up” on the new “Frizzell & Friends” CD that David Frizzell has produced as a tribute to his brother, Lefty. David and I sing, “Saginaw, Michigan,” Lefty’s last #1 record that I helped to write back in the sixties. Hope you’ll be listening out for this as well.
Just as I was about to wrap up this letter, I learned that the new vinyl version of my 2014 album, LIFE, is being released earlier than I thought. I had told you it would be out December 5th, but it’s actually coming November 21st. Be watching our Facebook page and Bill’s Journal for details on how you can obtain a copy. It might just make a nice Christmas gift for the country fans on your list.
As you can tell, I’ve got an awful lot to be thankful for right now, and I’m looking forward to celebrating a big Thanksgiving Day on the 27th. I’ll be home with my family and friends stuffing my face, watching football, and wishing a Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours wherever you might be. Thanks for everything, and I’ll see you back here again in December.
Latest Photos
You can tell from the fact that I’ve posted extra pictures this month that I had a busy October. Here in the first picture, I am welcoming Brad Paisley into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and presenting him with his “Manny” award. Sometimes I think Brad’s work as an artist has overshadowed his incredible ability as a songwriter. He is a great writer, though, and will now be recognized as such for all time.
Earlier in the evening, another new Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee, Jim Lauderdale, stopped by our table to receive congratulations from me and Buddy Cannon. The NSHOF dinner and induction ceremony is one of my favorite evenings of the entire year.
A super-nice guy and good friend, Billy Bob Thornton, was in Nashville recently for a musical appearance at the nearby Franklin Theater. I showed up uninvited to his sound check that afternoon, and we ended up having a great visit backstage. Billy Bob is an avid country music fan in addition to being a great actor, performer, and commercial spokesperson. We could have visited and talked all night, but I had to leave so he could go onstage!
The day I filmed my cameo spot for the Hallmark Grand Ole Opry Christmas movie, I couldn’t resist the temptation to sneak in a picture in front of the guitar-laden Christmas tree onstage at the Opry House. I never saw one quite like it, and I dare say you haven’t either. But I don’t think I’ll try this at home! I’ll stick to lights, ornaments, and tinsel!
T. Graham Brown is recording a gospel album for Bill Gaither’s company, and he invited me and Ryan Larkins to write a new song with him for the project. It was a fun day with a couple of my favorite buddies, and I think the song we wrote will touch a lot of people. I can’t wait to hear T. wrap his vocal chords around it. Thanks, my friend, for allowing me to be part of what I know will be an inspiring record.
After all the busyness of the month, I decided I needed to get away for a few days, and went up to my favorite fall hangout, the state of Maine. As you can see, the leaves were still in all their autumn glory, and the chowder and lobster just as tasty as I remember. It was a short trip, but accomplished its purpose. I came home rested and ready for another busy month in November.
Ask Bill – November 3, 2025
1) I just listened to an episode of Country Music Time with you and Connie Smith, and I was wondering if you performed on other AFRS country radio shows. Did the performers get paid for appearing on those shows? Back in the sixties and early seventies, all the branches of our military used recorded quarter-hour country music shows as recruiting tools. On some of the shows, we took our bands into the studio and performed live while on others they played our records and did short interviews. I still have a few of the old transcriptions (recordings) that I did for the Navy and the Air Force. And, yes, the performers got paid.
2) I was watching the movie, “Road To Nashville” again, and during your segment I fell in love with the guitar you used on “I Love You Drops.” It had marbled sixties blue side panels with white edging. Do you happen to know what brand and model it was? I’d like to try and find one. That guitar was made by Fender back in the 60’s, and was called a Fender King. The sides were light green, but probably showed up as blue on film. It had a wonderfully small neck which made it easy to chord, but it was the heaviest acoustical guitar I ever played. They don’t make that particular model anymore, but you might find one for sale online or in a good music store somewhere. If I’m not mistaken, mine is currently on display in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame section inside the new ice hockey arena in Athens, Georgia.
3) Do you know who have been some of the close runners-up or contenders for the Country Music Hall of Fame? A lot of us traditional country music fans have our lists of those we think should already be in. Just curious as to who has come close in recent years. The Hall of Fame guards this type information very closely. Even if I knew the answer, which I don’t, I wouldn’t be able to share it. Just keep pulling for your favorites.
Our Question of the Month comes from someone who didn’t sign their name and didn’t respond when I reached out to them. If this person happens to be you, please let me know so I can see that you get your free gift. The question is, “Do you miss the 70’s tourlife?” Once the “tourlife” has been as big a part of someone’s life as it was mine (and not just in the 70’s, but from the late fifties until early 2020), it’s very hard to close the door on it and pretend you don’t miss it. At the same time, there is a difference between missing it and wanting to go back to it. I miss the fans, I miss performing the music on stage, I miss the camaraderie with the band and the other artists, and heck there are even times when I miss the motels, the truck stops, the greasy food, and the tour bus rolling through the night. But do I want to return to it? No, I can honestly say I don’t. I was blessed to have traveled all those thousands of miles without having a serious accident, and I don’t relish the thought of tempting fate any further. I’ve stood on the biggest stages, smiled into the lenses of cameras transporting my picture and my voice into millions of living rooms, bedrooms, and bars all over the world, and I’ve seen this great land of ours from sea to shining sea. As as great as it was, none of it compares to hugging my kids and grandkids at bedtime, sitting down to a home cooked meal with the people I love, and sleeping in my own bed every night. I’m grateful for what was, but I’m even more grateful for what is…and for the fact that I’m still healthy enough to enjoy it.
Quickies: I loved Jeannie Seely so much. I was wondering if you will be doing a Country’s Family Reunion tribute to her? No, because CFR is no longer in production. When writing a song, how many rewrites do you go through before you feel it’s done? That depends on the individual song. I’ve spent years tweaking songs in an effort to get them just right, and I’ve gotten up from a writing session and never made any changes whatsoever to the original version. There are virtually no rules when it comes to songwriting. How do I order the Opry 100th Anniversary book? I assume you can go to www.opry.com and find it listed there. Or perhaps check Amazon where you can find just about anything these days. It’s a wonderful book. Enjoy! I have seen many famous country music stars around Chicago. Do you plan to play here? I have played in Chicago and the surrounding areas many times. I’ve always enjoyed my visits there, but as I wrote above, I am not touring at the present time. Have you ever performed in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada? How about in any one of the territories in Canada? I have performed in Newfoundland but never in Labrador or in any of the territories. I know there’s lots of country music fans up there, though, because I hear from many of them. Sorry I’ve missed out. Do you feel slighted that you did not perform one of your songs on the Opry100 – A Live Celebration? No, there wasn’t room and time for everybody. Do you think you and Rhonda Vincent might ever do a duet together? Nobody has asked us, but it might be fun to try. She’s one of my very favorite people and performers. As a writer, are you a big reader? If so, how do you find the time? Yes, I read a lot, and keep a book on my beside table all the time. I find the time by reading mostly at night as a way to relax and unwind before going to sleep. Do you have any siblings? I had a younger sister who passed away in 2006. You are such a classy dresser. When you are home alone do you bum around in old clothes? Boy, do I!! Right now I am sitting at my computer wearing a pair of tattered old shorts, an Atlanta Braves t-shirt, bedroom slippers, and a Georgia Bulldogs ball cap. I just hope the mailman, one of my neighbors, the preacher, the exterminator, or the delivery guy from Prime doesn’t pull into my driveway before I have a chance to get up and change!
I love your questions, and wish I had the time and space to get to them all. Keep watching, though, because I do try to answer them all eventually. If you’re curious about something related to me or to country music in general, you can always send your questions to askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll do my best to respond. If yours is selected as our Question Of The Month, you’ll win any item of your choosing from our online store. Stay curious, let me hear from you, and I’ll see you back here in December.
October 9, 2025
Countdown to Christmas at the Opry October 15th
October 1, 2025
Latest Photos
Jamie Dailey and Darrin Vincent (Dailey & Vincent) came up to our Church By The Lake on a beautiful September Sunday morning and shared their incredible musical talents with our congregation. Darrin even tied his own personal testimony into what the preacher spoke about…the fact that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. It was a beautiful time in one of the most beautiful settings that I know of. The book in my right hand is the very first Bible I ever owned…a New Testament with Psalms…that my Grandpapa Anderson gave me on my 7th birthday. It’s well-worn now, as you might imagine, but I wanted to read from it that morning and I did. I shared Psalm 100 which I felt was appropriate in that it talks about coming before God’s presence with singing. Thanks to Jamie and Darrin, we did exactly that. Thanks, Guys. You were amazing!
As I mentioned in my letter, I recently appeared on a podcast with Rusty Gaston, head of the Nashville division of Sony Music Publishing, where we talked about my career from the songwriting perspective. I’ve never devoted an entire interview to nothing but the writing of songs, and it was a fun visit. Rusty and I posed for this picture after the show was recorded. I hope lots of you will tune in to listen and watch our conversation.
This is an old picture from the vault (as you can tell) of a young Marty Robbins and an even younger Bill Anderson. It was taken at the old WSM radio studios in Nashville in the summer of 1955, which means I would have been all of 17-years old. I never dreamed back then that I’d get to know Marty, let alone tour with him, do television with him, and listen to him sing a song I had written. Can you see the stars in my eyes in this picture? Maybe not, but they were definitely there!
Ask Bill – October 1, 2025
1) What kind of rules, bylaws, or whatever it may be called does the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame have? It seems to me that there are a lot of good people out there who deserve to be in the HOF that are getting shunned. Why?
First, the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame are two entirely separate and different things. The Opry is a show, and membership in the cast is by invitation only. A panel of electors from the Country Music Association votes on Hall of Fame membership. There is no such thing as the Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame.
2) Of the many songs you have written, what song is the hardest for you to sing? Is there one that reaches deep down inside of you and gets to you while you are singing it? Maybe it brings tears to your eyes?
There are several, and it depends on the time and the place and what may be going on in my life at the moment as to what degree a particular song affects me. I always get a bit emotional when I do “Mama Sang A Song.” “Five Little Fingers” touches me in a similar way, and more recently I find myself having to fight back the tears when I perform, “The Last One I’ll Forget.” And there’s one old song that I didn’t write and never even recorded that always gets to me, and that’s “Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine”. I often perform it around Father’s Day.
3) On YouTube there is a video titled, “Bill Anderson FINALLY Opens Up About Hank Williams, Sr.” It’s an intriguing video, but I wonder if it was ever approved by you for public use and for accuracy. I’m hoping someone didn’t just manufacture a story and then put it on YouTube without your approval.
Well, that’s exactly what happened. I’ve seen that video, and nothing about it is accurate. First, I never laid eyes on Hank Williams, much less had a conversation with him backstage at the Opry. I was 15-years old and a sophomore in high school when he passed away. And this isn’t the only video that’s totally fabricated. I’ve seen other ridiculous pieces reflecting lies and inaccuracies about me and Connie Smith and Jeannie Seely and others. All I can say is please don’t believe this malarkey. Delete it when it pops up on your screen and don’t give it another thought. This junk gives “Fake News” a bad name.
4) Our Question of the Month comes from Lorraine in Iowa who asks: I was wondering if, in all the years you have been in the music business, you have ever hit that proverbial wall where you didn’t want to go on stage, write another song, or sing one? Even if it was just for an hour, a day, or a week? I don’t blame you if you have, and I congratulate you if you never have in 64-years!
Sure…I’ve hit that wall just as we all have. I dare say everyone reading this column has had those kinds of feelings in their own jobs and their own lives at one time or another. We’re all human. But the key is to recognize those feelings when they come and don’t let them hang around. First thing I do is try to get my mind on something as far removed from the music business as I can. I’ll watch a ball game, go sit on the porch with a good book, or go to the driving range and swing at a few helpless golf balls. Thankfully, I have friends I can call and family I can reach out to. I do that, and before I know it, the negative feelings have disappeared and I’m grabbing my guitar again. I think the process is called “Life!”
Quickies: Is there any particular reason when you hold a microphone in your left hand you wrap your entire hand around the mic, but when you hold it in your right hand you put your little finger behind the mic? No, because frankly I never realized that I do that. Maybe it has something to do with my being left-handed. You obviously watch me closer than I watch myself! I haven’t heard Mike Snider on the Opry in a while. Do you know if he has retired? I miss the guy and his funny jokes and awesome music. I miss him, too. He’s one of my favorite people. I reached out to Dan Rogers, our Opry General Manager, and he told me that Mike has had some personal issues in his life lately that have kept him away from the Opry…the death of his wife last year as well as a motorcycle accident. Hopefully, he’ll be back with us soon. Would you be comfortable sharing what items remain unchecked on your bucket list? As successful as you have been it’s hard to think there could be very many! Thank you…and you’re right. I have been so blessed in my life and my career that my list would fit into a very small bucket. And, at the moment, it’s a blank sheet of paper. Can a group who plays traditional country music make a living in today’s era? That’s a toughie. I’d say perhaps in a place like Texas and maybe Oklahoma they could, but probably not everywhere. In an area with deep traditional musical roots it might be easier. How many songs have you and Steve Wariner written together? I had to turn to Steve’s wife, Caryn, for this one. She keeps better records than Steve and I do. Caryn says we have written 21 that have been recorded and another 12 to 15 that haven’t. All I know is we’ve had a lot of fun doing it. Have you ever recorded “Peel Me A ‘Nanner” and, if so, what album is it on? No, as many times as I’ve sung this song on the Opry and other stages across the country, I have never recorded it. Maybe I should put that on my bucket list! How many years did you live in South Carolina? I always thought you were from Georgia. I was born in South Carolina and lived there until just after my 8th birthday. We moved to Georgia at that point because both my parents were Georgians, and they each had family there that they wanted to be closer to. Is Country’s Family Reunion ever coming back on RFD-TV? I doubt it, but you can find many of the episodes these days on YouTube. Does it ever happen to you that you sit down to write a song and have nothing to write about? What do you do in those cases? Go to lunch!!
And I guess that’s my cue to take a lunch break right about now…and let you have one as well. Thanks for all your questions this month, but don’t stop now. Let me know what you’re curious about by writing to me at askbill@billanderson.com. If yours is chosen our Question Of The Month you’ll win any item of your choice from our online store absolutely free. I’ll see you back here in November. Thanks for taking part…we couldn’t do it without you!
October 1, 2025
Hi Gang:
Is it just me, or does my favorite month of the year come around more frequently than it used to? Kind of like birthdays!
Regardless, I love the cooler temperatures, the colors coming alive on the trees, and all the great things going on in Whisperville. Pull up a chair, pour yourself a cup of coffee, and join us.
I guess by now you have discovered the five newly-digitized albums of mine that MCA Records has made available. And the good news is that there are still more to come. I hope you’ll check them all out, especially “Ladies Choice,” which up to now has only been available on the original LP. Folks have been asking for a digital version of this collection for years, and it’s finally here. You can find this one and all the others wherever you go to download your music. Enjoy!
And speaking of new releases, I’ve just learned that my CD from 2014 called “LIFE,” is about to be released on vinyl, and I’m excited about that too. This is the album that features the song, “Old Army Hat,” plus guest appearances by Willie Nelson, John Anderson, Vince Gill, Joey & Rory, and Dailey & Vincent. The release date for the vinyl version will be December 5th, just in time for Christmas. Hopefully, we can begin taking advance orders in November.
And, speaking of Christmas, Willie Nelson’s release of the Christmas song I helped to write, “Christmas Love Song,” should be popping up on the airwaves and on the streaming sites sometime later this month. I hope you’ll like it when you hear it. Can you believe Willie will be celebrating his 93rd Christmas this year? And he sounds great on this latest recording.
I’ve done several podcasts lately that should be appearing online shortly. One is part of an audio series called, “A Rich Conversation” with Chicago radio personality, Rich Renik. This half-hour visit is scheduled to air October 21st at www.wjol.com and on various other sites afterward. Another is a longer podcast titled “Thank A Songwriter – Episodes 7 & 8” where I visit with Sony Music Publishing executive, Rusty Gaston, and talk about the songwriting side of my career. You can listen now on Apple Music or Spodify or watch on YouTube at: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJYODzhBBDdA5uNlReehV1pttUdSnCgmw&si=Q4yr-08c0FsZCvzg. These podcasts are fun to do, and I hope you will enjoy listening and watching.
Oh, and I just learned a few days ago that the brand new South Carolina State Museum, which is scheduled to open soon in the town where I was born, Columbia, will be featuring a Bill Anderson exhibit! I’ve always been proud of my Carolina roots, and it’s nice to know the folks there are proud of me as well. Stay tuned….we’ll have more details soon.
On a somber note, as you may have heard, my former wife, Becky…mother to my son, Jamey…passed away on the morning of September 21st due to complications from dementia. She was 79.
Have a great month and thanks for everything.
September 24, 2025
AVAILABLE NOW: FIVE ALBUMS FROM BILL ANDERSON’S CATALOG ON DIGITAL/STREAMING
DIGITALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER:
WILD WEEKEND, IF IT’S ALL THE SAME TO YOU,
ALWAYS REMEMBER, LADIES CHOICE, NASHVILLE MIRRORS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Five albums from country music titan Bill Anderson’s unprecedented career are now available on streaming and digital platforms today. The following records are:
Wild Weekend (1968)
If It’s All The Same To You with Jan Howard (1970)
Always Remember (1971)
Ladies Choice (1979)
Nashville Mirrors (1980)
Anderson’s robust catalog continues to be digitalized after nearly seven illustrious decades writing and recording hit records. Earlier this year, the Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry member celebrated 64 years as the longest-serving member of the Grand Ole Opry. In April, the Tennessee Songwriters Association International honored Anderson with the Lifetime Achievement Award. In fall of 2024, Anderson was honored with the Dr. David Godbold Lifetime Achievement Award by the South Carolina Entertainment and Music Hall of Fame. Recently, he joined Big D and Bubba on the nationally syndicated radio show Honky Tonkin’ with Big D and Bubba, heard on more than 150 stations nationwide.
For more information on Bill Anderson, visit billanderson.com
ABOUT BILL ANDERSON:
Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry titan Bill Anderson is the rare songwriter whose first major label cut went to No. 1 on the charts, was named Song of The Year and sparked a writing career that is currently in its seventh decade. The song, “City Lights,” was written when Anderson was a 19-year old Georgia disc jockey and became a career-defining hit for Ray Price in 1958. The song opened doors for him in Nashville, leading him to signing with BMI and Tree Publishing. Anderson was far from a one-hit wonder. He followed “City Lights” with country standards like “Tips Of My Fingers,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Once A Day,” “Saginaw, Michigan,” “That’s What It’s Like To Be Lonesome,” “I Missed Me,” “Cold Hard Facts Of Life,” which earned him another GRAMMY nomination, “Mama Sang A Song,” the crossover smash, “Still,” and countless others. He was voted country Songwriter of the Year six times during his first decade in Music City. His success continued into the 1970’s with award-winning hits like “Slippin’ Away,” “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” “I May Never Get To Heaven,” and the disco-flavored, “I Can’t Wait Any Longer.” The 1980’s saw Anderson’s chart-topping career take a hiatus as he became a TV network game show host, spokesman for a national restaurant chain and a nonstop touring Grand Ole Opry performer. In the 1990’s he came roaring back with a vengeance, however, as he seriously turned to co-writing for the first time. Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001, his collaborations with the newer generation of Nashville tunesmiths resulted in hits like “Wish You Were Here,” the GRAMMY-nominated “Two Teardrops,” “A Lot Of Things Different,” for Kenny Chesney, “Which Bridge To Cross (Which Bridge To Burn),” for Vince Gill and two CMA Song Of The Year trophies for “Whiskey Lullaby,” with Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss and George Strait’s “Give It Away,” in 2005 and 2007 respectfully. He continues to write today with songs like Brad Paisley’s “Dying To See Her.”
September 2, 2025
September 2, 2025
Hi Gang:
I don’t think I have ever started off a newsletter with news from my personal life as opposed to news from my music career, but I’ve got a couple of things this time that I feel I should let you know right off the top:
First, thank you so much for all your calls, texts, e-mail messages, and prayers when I had to miss my scheduled spot on the Grand Ole Opry last month. I messed up the ligaments or muscles or something in the back of my left knee, and I was in a lot of pain and barely able to walk for a few days. Somehow it made the national news, and many of you reached out to me which I really appreciated. I’m doing fine now, though, and I promise to try and maneuver more carefully from now on.
My other personal item is….(drum roll goes here!)…. I’M GOING TO BE A GREAT- GRANDPA!!
My granddaughter, Caroline, and her husband, Jacob, are expecting their first child in February!! They are excited, of course….Caroline is doing well health-wise…and Whisperin’ Bill is over the moon!! I’ll keep you posted as their journey continues, but I just had to “shout” it out first thing this month.
Now, for a deep breath, a cool drink of water, and the rest of this month’s news:
I mentioned last month that hopefully by now I’d have some news on the Christmas song I recently co-wrote with Bobby Tomberlin and Marv Green and which Willie Nelson just recorded. Well, it’s not carved in stone, but as of now it appears that our song, “Christmas Love Song,” will be released as a single this year and as part of a Willie Nelson Christmas album in 2026. There is also talk of a video to accompany this season’s release. I’ll keep you posted as things move forward, but I think this is something you’re really going to like. At least I hope so.
And, speaking of Christmas, the Hallmark Channel folks have been in town for the past few weeks filming a Christmas movie at the Grand Ole Opry House. Several of us…including me, Jamey Johnson, Riders In The Sky, Pam Tillis, Dailey & Vincent, and Brad Paisley….stopped in for cameo roles in the film. Well, Brad’s part was more than a cameo as he provided lots of music for the film, but even a small role was fun. Just don’t blink or you’ll miss my part! When I know an exact air date for the movie I’ll pass it along, but it’s scheduled to premier sometime in November.
Word out of Texas is that the great western swing group, Asleep At The Wheel, has recorded a new song called, “Everything I Need’s In Texas,” a tune I helped write along with Bobby Tomberlin and Austin Williams. I love western swing music, and can’t wait to hear the treatment my buddy, Ray Benson, and his fellow musicians gave our song.
And speaking of Bobby Tomberlin: You notice, I’m sure, that his name crops up a lot these days when I talk about new songs because he and I write together quite often. I know many of our fans have kept up with Bobby ever since he was my traveling sound engineer years ago. In case you haven’t heard, Bobby has a great new book out that I know you’ll enjoy. It’s called “I’ve Lived Country Music.” Bobby asked me to write the book’s Foreward which was an honor. It’s chocked full of pictures, great country music stories, and memories for traditional country fans. You can order your copy through Amazon. I predict you’ll really enjoy it.
Many of you continue to ask about my grandson, Gabe, and I want you to know that he celebrated his 21st birthday on August 8th. You’ve kept him in your thoughts and prayers as he’s fought a courageous battle with cancer since he was six. THANK YOU! He’s made it to “manhood,” and we have so much to be thankful for.
My scheduled Opry dates for September are Saturday the 6th and Saturday the 27th. Come see us if you can, and tune us in if you can’t. Have a great month, and hopefully I’ll see you back here again in my most favorite month of all….October!
Thanks for everything….
Ask Bill – September 2, 2025
1) I was friends with a performer/songwriter who lived to be over 100 years old. I asked his widow awhile back if she had received any royalty checks from her husband’s songwriting since he passed, and she said she hadn’t seen anything. This guy wrote songs recorded by the likes of Charley Pride and Dolly Parton. Is there a clearing house with BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC that one can contact to get royalties paid?
The first thing his widow should do is determine who published her husband’s songs and reach out to them. If she can’t find this information through regular channels, encourage her to seek out the Charley and Dolly records and look on the inserts or label copy. This should tell her which of the three Performance Rights Organizations licensed the songs as well. Once she determines this, she should be able to move forward. Songwriter royalties cannot be legally withheld just because the writer has passed away.
2) “I Love You Drops” comes up on my playlist quite often. What made you write and record that song?
Two readers asked that same question this month, so guess I’d best try to explain.
I had been listening to the song, “Memphis,” by rock legend, Chuck Berry, when I heard him refer to the teardrops on his daughter’s cheeks as “hurry home drops.” I thought that was a very clever and unique way to describe tears. I carried it a step forward and called the singer’s tears, “I Love You Drops.” I followed my lyric by writing a country-oriented melody. Owen Bradley came up with the “falling teardrops” musical sound on the arrangement, and the rest is history.
3) In the second verse of your song, “City Lights,” you sang…”Did the God who put those stars above make those city lights?”…as a question. But when Dave Rich, who was the next artist to record it, came to that line he sang, “But God who put those stars above I don’t believe made those lights.” Why do you think he changed it? To me, the impact of the song hits deeper with the question.
I thought so, too, but Dave had very strong religious beliefs (he later became a full-time preacher), and he thought that I was implying there is more than one God which, of course, was not my belief nor my intention at all. Looking at it now, had I just taken out one word from my original lyric I think it would have passed muster with everyone. Remove the word “the” and the line reads, “Did God who put those stars above make those city lights?” But I was not savvy nor experienced enough in 1958 to suggest such a change. I wish I had been.
4) Our Question Of The Month comes from John in Ohio and it’s an interesting one: Back in the 60’s and 70’s you had some highly creative arrangements on your recordings that were different from what others were doing at the time. One song I’m thinking of in particular is, “My Life.” Can you tell me how a unique arrangement like this came to be? Was it developed ahead of time or worked out in the studio? I’m sure your input was essential to the arrangement. What part did your producer, Owen Bradley, play in arrangements such as this?
Owen played a very large part in the arrangements on all my recordings, particularly the early ones. And most were worked out in the studio. You can hear his creativity on records like “Mama Sang A Song,” “Still,” “I Love You Drops,” “Golden Guitar,” and others. Those records would have never been as successful as they were without his touch. As time went by, though, he began to allow me more and more freedom in selecting musicians for my sessions, and that was the first step in giving my records a “different” sound. Since I was also writing most of the songs I was recording back then, I got to experiment with different songs and sounds on my demo sessions. We often took the arrangements from the demos directly into the master sessions. In my mind, Owen Bradley was the greatest record producer Nashville has ever known because he not only created brilliantly but he listened to his artists’ ideas. He and I had a wonderfully successful relationship for almost twenty years.
Before we get to the Quickies this time let me straighten something out from our last newsletter. Once again, our readers have proven to know more than me.
Remember when someone asked what song the line, “I can hear you rattle the pots and pans” came from? I replied the only song I knew with a reference like that was the old rock classic, “Shake Rattle & Roll.” Well, two alert readers, Scott and Bryan, told me the line was actually from an old Porter Wagoner song called, “Be A Little Quieter,” which came out first in Porter’s “Sings His Own” album in 1971 and was re-recorded for the “Wagonmaster.” collection in 2007.
Thanks, Guys. Actually, I knew that all along…I was just seeing who was paying attention! 
Now let me see what other things I can get wrong:
Quickies: Do you still have your Po’ Folks Band? Yes, unless you know something I don’t know! My husband was looking through a streaming channel and found a movie called, “Las Vegas Hillbillies.” You were in it and sang, “Still.” Do you remember that movie? Of course I do. We filmed it in December of 1965, I wore a light green Nudie suit, and I also sang, “Bright Lights & Country Music.” I see so many false things reported I need to know if Marty Stuart and Connie Smith are still living? Yes….and still living TOGETHER so far as I know. What was your age when you first performed in public and did you play an instrument? I was 15 and played guitar. When was the last taping of Country’s Family Reunion? 2018 is the latest I can find. Larry Black says that was our last taping. It was titled, “Country’s Unbroken Circle.” I was wondering if you ever planned to publish a book with all your song lyrics with some comments about the stories behind them? I would be very interested in such a book. Frankly, I’d never thought about it, but it’s an intriguing idea. Thanks for the suggestion. Most songwriters I know carry a harmonica with them in case a song idea comes to them while out. Do you carry one with you or wait ’til you have a guitar handy? No, I’ve never carried a harmonica, but I’m rarely without my phone or some type of recording device. If a song idea strikes me, I punch “Record,” and hum, sing, or whisper my thoughts into the microphone. That works until I can get home and pull out my trusty six-string. How do artists decide the order of songs on an album? The artists don’t always make those decisions, at least not by themselves. Sometimes the producer has a sequence in mind and will work with the artist on a line-up that seems to fit. Keys, tempos, and subject matter play a large role in the process as well. What suggestions would you give to someone who’d like to have a career as a songwriter but not as a singer? GO FOR IT!! You can certainly be one without having to be the other. Can you provide a list of all the vitamins, herbal supplements, and magic potions that you take? I want to have what you have. You sure have a lot more energy than I do. You are very kind. I have no magical pills or potions. I just try to eat right, get some exercise every day, and a good night’s sleep every night. I try to face each day with a positive attitude and enjoy the tasks that lie before me. The Good Lord has definitely smiled upon me. I feel very blessed.
And I’m blessed to have you along for the ride here with me every month. When I first started this little column, I’d often have to stretch to find enough questions to fill out the space. Nowadays, I get so many questions each month that I can’t possibly answer them all. But please don’t quit sending them in! Write me at askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll try to satisfy your curiosity as best as I can. The Question of The Month earns the sender any item from our online store free of charge. So, let me hear from you, and I’ll see you back here again in October.
