November 2, 2023
Hi Gang:
And welcome to “birthday month” in Whisperville!
I appreciate very much all the cards, e-mails, and text messages you sent my way over the past several days in celebration of one more candle being added to my birthday cake on November 1st. I had a great day laughing, eating more than I should, and reminiscing with family and friends. What more could I ask?
November is shaping up to be quite a month for me and all my gang. First, the Country Music Association has invited me to be a presenter on the CMA Awards Show airing on ABC-TV the night of Wednesday November 8th. I’m not sure which award I will be presenting, but I’ve been told that Sara Evans will be joining me in the moment. I hope lots of you will be tuned in. Those nights are always special.
Then, less than 48 hours later on November 10th, UMG Records will be releasing a new Bill Anderson single record called “The Country I Grew Up With.” I’m joined on the record by a few guys you might have heard of: Bobby Bare, Jimmy Fortune, Vince Gill and Willie Nelson. They tell me it’s the first time 5 Hall of Fame members have ever appeared together on one song, and I’m excited for you to hear it. There is a lyric video on its way as well. Hang on.
What else is happening? Well, my webmaster, Stephanie, and I have put our heads together and created something I think you will enjoy. We got to talking one day about all the artists outside of country music who have recorded songs of mine, and we’ve put together a list of titles that you might want to check out. It includes everything from very diverse recordings of “Still” by James Brown and Bing Crosby to cuts by Nancy Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Rick Nelson and more. You can hear these cuts and others on my Spotify playlist at https://cwired.co/BASurpriseCuts. Some of the interpretations might shock you a little bit, but I’ve always considered it a compliment when someone puts their own stamp on something I created.
On a personal note, you might remember earlier this year when I had a surgical procedure scheduled and it had to be canceled. Well, it’s back on the docket for Monday November 20th, and I would really appreciate your positive thoughts and prayers on that day and the days following. If all goes well, I’ll only be in the hospital one night and back home eating
turkey and dressing on Thanksgiving. But if you would put in a good word for me with The Man Upstairs I would be most grateful. Meanwhile, prior to the surgery, I will be on the Opry November 4th, 11th, and 18th.
And speaking of Thanksgiving, I hope each of you has a great day as we pause to count our blessings and offer up thanks for every one of them. I’m certainly thankful for each one of you and all the good things you bring into my life. Tell your friends about our newsletter, and I’ll look forward to seeing you…and maybe some of them… back here in December.
Gratefully,
