August 1, 2024

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!