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.