Ask Bill – July 1, 2026

1) What is your favorite song that you like to sing on the Grand Ole Opry and why? Wow…I don’t know that I’ve ever thought about it in terms of favorites. When I first come out on stage, I like to sing one of my up-tempo songs like “Wild Weekend” or “I Get The Fever” to introduce myself to the crowd. When I want to get them in a light-hearted mood I turn to songs like “Wherever She Is,” “The Unicorn”, or “Peel Me A ‘Nanner.” But, truthfully, my most favorite songs to sing are probably the ballads where the audience grows quiet and hangs on every word. My faves on that list would include “Too Country,” “A Lot Of Things Different,” “The Way I Feel”, and “The Last One I’ll Forget.” I’m just honored to get to sing any song on that hallowed stage, and to have done it now for almost 65-years.

2) Everyone knows that Nashville is rich in country music, but I was wondering if you’ve ever had the chance to visit some of the other historical sites in the area, particularly the Hermitage which as been on my bucket list for years. Have you been there and what did you think? Oh yes…I don’t live nearly as sheltered a life as you might think. I’ve been to the Hermitage on several occasions, including one time which happened to fall on President Andrew Jackson’s birthday. While I was there, a delivery truck came up and someone placed a large red, white, and blue wreath on President Jackson’s grave. When they left, I leaned in to see what was written on the card. The wreath had been sent by our current President at the time….Richard Nixon. I’ve not only been to the Hermitage, but to the Parthenon, the Belle Meade Mansion, Cheekwood, the Loveless Cafe, the Station Inn, and Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge. All in my efforts to be a well-rounded person! 

3) What’s the story behind one of your songs that never became a big hit but one that you are proud of? Not long after Jon Randall and I co-wrote “Whiskey Lullaby,” we got onto writing a string of what Jon referred to as “dark” songs. Most of them have never seen the light of day and never will, but Kenny Chesney recorded one in an album called, “Demons,” that I’ve always been partial to. It told the story of a man who said, “Some come in a bottle, some in a pair of high heeled shoes,” and admitted, “If I’m not chasing demons there’s demons chasing me.” I’ve never been afraid to write songs about the dark but oft’times honest sides of life, and this is about as graphic description of that as I’ve ever been a part of creating. And a far cry from a happy one Jon and I wrote later with Carrie Underwood that’s just been released by Dailey & Vincent called, “A Beautiful Life!”

4) Question Of The Month: This month’s question was sent in by Kathleen from Virginia and it gives me a chance to talk about something I’ve been wanting to address for a long time: “You have been my favorite singer for over 50-years, ever since I heard “If You Can Live With It (I Can Live Without It)” back in 1973. It’s such a catchy song. Why didn’t it go to Number One? I researched and it only went to #57.” Oh, you have touched one of my most sensitive hillbilly nerves! I don’t know where you did your research, but to refresh my memory, I looked in a book called Hot Country Songs published by Billboard magazine and found that the week of February 24, 1973, “If You Can Live With It” was the #2 record in the country. Later, I found a plaque presented to me by a publication called Record World where it was #1 in their charts. So to say it only reached #57 is certainly not correct. The reason this type thing irritates me is because back in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s there were several publications that put out country music charts — Billboard, CashBox, Record World (once known as Music Vendor), the Music Reporter, The Gavin Report and more. They used different methods to create their charts each week…some based on record sales, some on radio airplay, some on jukebox activity…and as a result the charts often came out quite different from one another. A song could be #1 in one publication and only rise to #10 or #15 in another. Over the years, however, Billboard has been the only one of those magazines to have documented and preserved their charts for posterity. As a result, whatever Billboard said about a record back then is taken as gospel today. According to Billboard, I have had seven #1 records, but when you consider all the various charts together, I have had over 20 #1’s.  That’s quite a difference. Kathleen, I’m glad to know I am your favorite singer, and I appreciate your giving me the opportunity to sound off on a subject near and dear to my heart. Thank you.

Quickies: I’m curious as to just what happens with the many gifts I am sure you receive from fans. I ate most of them! I’m only kidding, of course, but so many of the gifts fans brought to our concerts back in the day were cakes, pies, cookies, etc., and I ate ‘way too many of them! I’ve kept as many of the other gifts as I’ve had room for, and appreciated every  one. Jimmy Capps was a great guitar player, but he seemed to prefer not being in the limelight. I wonder how he was behind the scenes when the cameras were not rolling. Exactly the same as you saw him on TV. He was extremely talented and totally unassuming. The title of his autobiography says it all, “The Man In Back.” That’s where he stood and where he preferred to be. I read in your book that you have charted a song for seven consecutive decades. Have you charted any here in the ’20s to make it eight decades? No, but I’m working on it. And I’ve still got 3 1/2 years to go!! I noticed in last month’s newsletter that in her graduation picture your granddaughter had several cords hanging around her neck as well as a National Honor Society collar. Does each cord signify something different? I had to ask Hallie to identify them for me and here’s what she said: The collar was for being in the top 10% of her class. Two cords, a blue and a gold one, represented her membership in the National Honor Society. A medal was for being a Student Ambassador, the black cord for being on the student council (of which she was president), and the red one for her hosting a Red Cross blood drive at school. She had a wonderful high school career, and her ol’ PawPaw is awfully proud of her….as I am of all my children and grandchildren. Did you write “Walk Out Backwards?” I love that song. Thank you. When people make fun of it I try to deny that I wrote it, but the truth is I actually did. I recently saw a wonderful documentary about Dean Dillon. You mentioned him in a recent newsletter. How is he doing and do you plan to write with him again? So far as I know Dean is doing well, and I’m always open to writing with him. He’s one of the greatest country songwriters of all time. I’d also love to write with his daughter, Jesse. She’s writing more hits these days than me and her daddy combined! I have been a fan of yours as long as you have been singing. It has always been a dream of mine to meet you in person. Do you ever put on shows in the Northwest? I live in central Washington state. Thanks for your kind words. I have performed many times in the great Northwest, and always enjoyed the spectacular scenery and the great country fans out that way. I stopped touring during COVID, though, and haven’t started back. I doubt that I ever will. When you were growing up what made you decide to get into country music? Actually, growing up I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I was a left-handed pitcher in high school with dreams of playing in college and beyond. I decided to go into music, though, when the opposing hitters began moving up in the batters box and hitting my slow-breaking curve ball before it broke. I knew my fast ball wasn’t major league caliber, so I went to work on my G-chord and my songwriting. It all just unfolded from there.

And speaking of “folding,” we need to fold the tent for this go ’round and thank you for another great month of questions. Keep ’em coming, because we’ll be right back here to do this again in August. If you’re curious about something connected to me or to country music, send your inquiries to askbill@billanderson.com or mail them to me at P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076 USA. Submit our Question Of The Month and win any item of your choice from our online store absolutely free. I’ll look forward to hearing from you. Stay curious.