Ask Bill – December 2, 2025

1) I really like the song, “No,” that you wrote with Jon Randall and Brad Paisley. I think it is very underrated, even though it’s imbued with your usual wisdom and honest outlook on life. Can you tell us something about it? On the day we wrote it, I had told Jon and Brad about the time my younger sister confronted our grandfather, the preacher, about prayer. “Granddaddy, God doesn’t answer prayer,” she told him defiantly. “What makes you say that?” he calmly asked. “Because I prayed for a pony and I didn’t get one,” she replied. “Oh, He answered you all right,” the wise old minister answered. “He told you no.” Jon and Brad were both quite taken by that story, and we used my sister’s real-life experience as the basis for our song. I’m glad you like it.

2) I visualize coming to your home and going into your living room for a visit. My question is this: Is there a Family Bible on the table? And did you ever record the inspirational song called The Family Bible? No, I never recorded that song (did you know that Willie Nelson wrote it and sold it for $50?) even though it’s one of my favorites. I have more than one version of the Bible, as well as some daily devotional books, on the table by my chair. I try to set aside some time, usually early morning, to read from them. That’s usually how and when I gain my focus and strength for the day.

3) The comedian, Stringbean, was murdered two years before I was born, but I grew up watching him on a collection of HeeHaw videos that I found at a yard sale. He had to be a great guy. What is your memory of Stringbean? Well first off, you nailed it when you referred to him as a great guy. He was funny, kind, warm, humble, and his and his wife’s murders were two of the most senseless crimes that have taken place during my years in Nashville. To illustrate his demeanor, I once worked a concert with him where his act did not go over well with the audience…the type of non-reaction that would have driven most artists up the wall. String calmly walked offstage, put his banjo in the case, lit his pipe, and calmly said to me, “Billy Boy, they took me serious!” He was unflappable. All of us at the Opry loved String and Estelle. And did I mention he followed baseball and was a big Braves fan? How could you not love a guy like that??

4) Our Question Of The Month comes from Warren in Missouri who asks, “I saw where you were on American Bandstand in 1963. What was your experience like as a country singer being on a rock show? Did you hit it off with Dick Clark? 1963 was the year that my recording of “Still” hit #1 on the country charts and crossed over into the Top Ten of the pop charts. I was invited to be on American Bandstand, but not inside their regular Philadelphia studio. The show was to be televised from an outdoor location on Miami Beach the week they wanted me, and I was scheduled to perform “Still” outside by a swimming pool at the Fountainbleu Hotel. Well, as luck would have it, just as Dick Clark introduced me on the live telecast, the heavens opened up and it began to pour rain. There I stood in my “show clothes” holding a microphone in my hand and having not a clue what to do. Dick, being the professional that he was, saw my plight and quickly reflected the action back onto himself. He took off running away from the hotel and down to the beach, the cameras following him all the way. When he reached the ocean he dived in…suit and tie and all. The show ended with him flailing away in the surf. He dried off, came back up where I was standing, and apologized…almost as if the rain had been his fault. And he invited me to come to  Philadelphia and perform my next recording on his show whenever it might be released. He and I became good friends following that ordeal, and years later he even came to one of my fan club parties in Nashville. He could not have been any nicer.

Quickies: I was watching some old video clips and saw Jimmy Capps playing the guitar left-handed. On the Family Reunion shows he played right-handed. My question is, was he able to play from both sides? No, he only played right-handed. It’s fairly easy to flip filmed images and make someone appear to be doing something backwards from the way they were actually doing it. Jimmy was talented, but not talented enough to play the guitar both right and left-handed! What is the most important thing in your life other than singing and playing guitar? Writing songs, which you didn’t mention, along with my family and my faith. I was at the Opry one night when they inducted a new member. I was wondering if they did the same thing at the second show that evening as they did at the first? No, the induction is only done the one time. On the second show, the inductee is introduced as the newest member of the cast and performs as usual. Some time ago I discovered Anita Carter singing your song, “That’s What It’s Like To Be Lonesome.” Do you know of any other Bill Anderson songs she recorded? So far as I know, that was the only one. What an angelic voice she had. I wish she had recorded more. Which leads us into the next question: Who would you list as the purest country voices you’ve ever heard? Whoa…that’s a toughie, very subjective, and a lot like comparing apples to oranges. Some of the male singers that come to mind include Merle Haggard, George Jones, Mac Wiseman, Hylo Brown, Eddy Arnold, Don Williams, and Jim Reeves. Among the females I’d have to include Connie Smith, Molly O’Day, Anita Carter, and Alison Krauss. This is just off the top of my head. If I left out your favorite, I apologize. I was recently watching a 1966 rerun of the Merv Griffin Show where Eva Gabor and Eddie Albert were his guests. Eddie mentioned that he had recently recorded an album in Nashville and would be on the Opry. Were you there when he appeared? No, but I wish I had been. He and I had the same manager for awhile, and I heard many good things about him. Sadly, I never got to meet him. What was the last duet you recorded with Jeannie Seely? We only recorded one, “When Two Worlds Collide,” in her American Classic album from 2020. Do you shop through Amazon frequently? I don’t know your definition of “frequently,” but I try to shop with local, hometown merchants first. If they don’t have what I’m looking for, then you might see the Amazon truck pulling into my driveway.

In fact, I think I hear it out there right now! I’d best turn off my computer and go see what I’ve forgotten that I ordered! Thanks for all your questions this month, and I’ll look forward to starting off the New Year in January with a big, fresh batch of new ones. If you want to know about anything related to me or to country music, reach out to askbill@billanderson.com and I’ll do my best to come up with a suitable answer. If yours is chosen our Question Of The Month, you’ll win any item of your choice from our online store absolutely free. Merry Christmas once again…Happy New Year…and stay curious.