February 1, 2012

Hi Folks:

I hope you don't get tired of seeing me pop up in your mailbox, but it's time for our regular monthly fan club newsletter. I hope it's not overkill, coming on the heels of the recent blast we sent out about our new record, "Gone Away."

Your response to that mailing and to the record has been nothing short of amazing. I've lost count of how many listens and downloads you've come through with, but it's in the thousands. Your comments about the recording have been extremely positive, and I can't thank you enough. If you haven't yet listened or downloaded the song, you've only got a few more days to take advantage of the FREE offer. Go to our web site at www.billanderson.com and click on the banner at the top of the Home page. It's that simple.

There has been one very nice but totally unexpected thing come out of all this. Several radio stations around the world have downloaded the song and are now playing it on their airwaves. I've heard from several stations here in the U.S., plus some in Europe, in Australia, and across Canada. If you have a favorite station or favorite disc jockey, get in touch with them and tell them to take advantage of this new music by Whisperin' Bill and the Oak Ridge Boys. If they play the older artists or the classic songs at any point in their schedule, this song should be a perfect fit. Thank you.

I am trying to get packed and ready to go overseas on the 19th of February, even to the point of buying a new heavy coat yesterday. I hope the weather is good over there, but I've been there enough to know it can get cold and rainy at times. We're only going to be gone for a week, but from the looks of my luggage you'd think we were going for six months. I never know what to leave at home.

For all our fans and friends in Great Britain, in Ireland, and in Northern Ireland, I'm sure looking forward to visiting with you again. It's been 'way too long since I've been there. I hope you'll spread the word and come to see us if you possibly can.

Closer to home, my booking agency is opening an office in Nashville this month to go along with their offices in New York, Toronto, Los Angeles, and London, and that's exciting for us. Hopefully, it will result in more concerts for us this year. We have quite a few dates pending already, but we can't announce them just yet. I can say, though, that in addition to everything else, we will be touring western Canada again in October.

Again, thanks for all your help on "Gone Away," and for being the best friends and fans anybody could ever have. I'll see you right back here again the first of March.

"Still,"

January 3, 2012

Hi Folks:

And Happy New Year!

I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas holiday. Mine couldn't have been any better.

I spent Christmas Eve night at the home of my daughter-in-law, Beth's, parents....being treated to a wonderful meal and lots of fun and laughter. I exchanged gifts with my grandsons, Blake and Gabe, and granddaughters, Hallie and Sophie. I had recorded one of those "talking books" for the girls, and we sat in the middle of the floor as they begged me to play it over and over again. I tried telling them that they could still listen to me reading it to them when they got home, but I'm not sure they believed me.

On Christmas afternoon, my daughters, Terri and Jenni, came to my house with food, gifts, husbands, and kids, and the good times started all over again. Christmas night, I accepted an invitation to have dinner at a friend's house. Afterward, I fell asleep in a chair by the fire with a full tummy and a smile on my face.

One of my favorite gifts was a 2012 calendar Beth made for me with pictures she had taken during the year. The calendar cover is the only picture I have of me and all eight grandkids together, taken on my birthday back in November. Even if Sophie wouldn't look at the camera, it is still very special. You can see a copy at the end of this newsletter.

I appreciated so much all the beautiful Christmas cards from so many of you, and the kind thoughts and messages that accompanied them. I read every single one, and I thank you for thinking of me in the midst of all your other holiday hustle and bustle.

I'm looking forward to an exciting 2012 and, as always, you are a big part of all that we plan and do. Thanks for continuing to support me and my music by being a member of our fan club. And I look forward to coming face-to-face with many of you throughout the coming year. You're the best....still....after all this time.

Wow...that sounds like a good idea for a song! Maybe I should try to write it.

Hi Folks:

Has it really been a year since I was writing to you about all our exciting plans coming up for 2011? Wow...where did the time go?

I recall last year at this time telling you some of the earliest details of our big 50th Anniversary Grand Ole Opry celebration that would be coming up in July. I told you we thought we'd have a 5-CD box set of my early recordings released this year. And not long afterward, I revealed some of my plans for touring in 2011 with an acoustical show for the first time. All of those projects came to fruition, except the box set turned out to be four CD's instead of five. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

Looking ahead to 2012, I'm starting to get excited all over again. We won't have a big celebration on the scale of my 50th Opry Anniversary next year, and definitely won't have a record release the size of my box set, but we've got lots of exciting things in the works. I plan to record and release some new music, starting with the record I recently made with the Oak Ridge Boys. I hope to write a whole bunch of new songs, and record some new episodes of Country's Family Reunion. In February, I'll be touring overseas for the first time in over twenty years (does anybody remember exactly when I was in the U.K. last?), and I am hopeful that this singer/songwriter trip will serve to open some other doors across the pond. Plus, I've got a few surprises up my sleeve as well. My team and I are working on some of those right now. Stay tuned, because there could be some fun things for all of us up around that next big bend in the road!

I do want to remind those of you who receive the printed version of our fan club letters via mail that it's time to renew your membership for next year. We've had to increase our dues from $8 to $10 to help cover our rising costs, but I hope lots of you will continue to want the news from Whisperville. As always, you can contact us at P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076.

Since this is our final fan club letter of 2011, please let me thank each of you one more time for a fantastic year. I honestly don't know how it could have been any better.

I am planning, as the song says, to enjoy a "Tender Tennessee Christmas" this year...just staying home and spending time with family and friends. Whatever you do and wherever you go, I wish you and yours all the happiness and peace of the season. Merry Christmas and a wonderfully Happy New Year to you all. I hope to see each of you soon somewhere along the trail.

Still,

Hi Folks:

I promised you that I'd be right on time with my letter this month, and here I am....writing it on my birthday!

And speaking of that, thank you SO much for all the cards, letters, e-mail, and text messages that I began receiving over the weekend. They have continued to pour in this morning, and I appreciate every single one. Having one more birthday to celebrate is most definitely a gift, and it's one that I don't take lightly.

My daughters are taking me to lunch today, a friend is taking me to dinner tonight, and then on Monday the family is throwing me a big half-birthday party. Well, it's not going to be half of a party, but only half of it will be to celebrate MY birthday.

My newly-adopted granddaughter from China, whose American name is Amy Sophia, was born either on November 4th or November 5th, 2009. She was found abandoned, so nobody knows for sure. But she and I will begin a tradition this year of celebrating our birthdays together. How cool is that? It will be fun now, but in later years I hope it will become even more meaningful to her. It's already very meaningful to me.

In other news, be watching for the details of how you can order a copy of our upcoming boxed set when it is released on November 15th. We hope to have the first one-hundred copies in our office shortly before Thanksgiving, and as you'll be reading on our web site, I'll be numbering them and autographing them for the first one hundred people who order, making them true collector's items. Shipping will be free, and we should be able to have them to you in plenty of time for Christmas.

I can't begin to tell you how impressed I am with this collection. It is a 4-CD set with over 120 songs. Everything is of the very highest quality, and the hard-cover book has information about my life and my recordings right down to the tiniest little detail. Ever wanted to know who played bass or piano on my original record of "Tips Of My Fingers?" You can find that and much more useful (and useless) information inside this package. Plus there's a lot of music you've never heard before. In case you can't tell, I'm pumped!

I'm also excited to let our friends in the United Kingdom know that I'll be heading your way not long after the first of next year. I don't have many details just yet, but a songwriters' tour sponsored by the CMA is in the works. I should have more information to share in our next newsletter.

I won't be writing again until December, so here's wishing each of you a great Thanksgiving. There's so much in our lives to be thankful for. We just need to slow down and remember that sometimes.

I'm especially thankful for you...my fans and my friends....and I wish you all the best.

Still,

October 10, 2011

Hi Folks:

Sorry this month's newsletter is late, but I took some time off last week to rest and relax.

I played a show in Cody, Wyoming, on October 1st, and decided to spend a few more days out west. Larry Black, star of Larry's Country Diner and producer of our Country's Family Reunion series on RFD-TV, has a beautiful log home in Montana, and he graciously offered it to me for a week. There was no way I could possibly turn that down!

I spent a lot of time staring at the beautiful Beartooth Mountain range, hiking, eating, taking pictures, eating, shopping, watching the baseball playoffs on television (don't mention the Braves), and eating. I don't know if it's the cool, clear mountain air or what, but something out there sure made me hungry. Maybe it was simply the great food.

Anyhow, it was a fun trip, but it's time to get back to work. I'll be playing catch-up in the office all week then doing an acoustical show in Shelby, N.C., on Friday. Shelby was Don Gibson's hometown, and the theater there is named for him. I'm told it's beautiful, and I'm really looking forward to performing there. Later this month we will be recording some new Family Reunion shows, and I will be performing three more acoustical shows in Texas. All the details are on the Tour page at www.billanderson.com.

Word seems to have leaked out about my recently recording with the Oak Ridge Boys, and the rumors are true. Technically, I guess they recorded with me since I uncovered the song, called "Gone Away," and added their voices to the tracks I had already cut. It's one of the most unusual things I've ever done, and I hope you will like it when you hear it. I'm not sure exactly when it will be available, but probably sometime pretty soon. We'll keep you posted.

Awards season is upon us in Nashville, and though I'm not nominated for anything this year, I plan to attend all the festivities just like always. It's a fun time for socializing with friends and contemporaries inside the music business. I enjoy catching up on all the gossip, and I never tire of seeing my friends win awards. Who knows, I might even win another one myself someday.

Stay cheerful, travel safe, and come see us when you can. I'll see you back here again next month. And I'll try to be on time!

Thanks for everything,

Hi Folks:

I hope all our friends here in the States had a relaxing Labor Day weekend.

I forget sometimes that people read our newsletters all around the world, so I guess I need to be specific about holidays that are strictly American.

The "relaxing" is about to be over, though, at least here in Whisperville, USA. I took much of the summer off the road in order to devote time and attention to our Grand Ole Opry 50th Anniversary celebration, but now that that's in the rear view mirror, it's time to start looking ahead to fall. It appears as though I'm going to be quite busy.

In addition to our Opry appearances on September 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 13th, and 20th, we'll be doing concerts in Greeneville, TN. (10th), Commerce, GA. (17th), Branson, MO. (23rd and 24th), Milwaukee, WI. (27th, 28th, & 29th), and in Cody, WY. on October 1st. I hope we'll see lots of you out along the concert trail. You can always get more details on the Tour page at www.billanderson.com.<!--more-->

I'll also be in the recording studio this month working on a new record. This is not a full CD at the moment, but just one song that I'm very excited about. Hopefully, I can tell you more about it real soon. Hint: It involves people other than just me.

I've gotten back into the songwriting saddle again lately, too, and I think the time away from it has left me refreshed and feeling more creative than I have in a while. Maybe I can write something that you'll be able to hear on the radio one of these days real soon.

Speaking of my songs, a staffer in former Senator and Presidential candidate, Bob Dole's, office heard me sing "Old Army Hat" recently on the Opry. He bought a copy of Billy Ray Cyrus' recording of the song and played it for Senator Dole. Mr. Dole wrote me a beautiful heartfelt letter thanking me for "your stirring message and for bringing attention to the World War II Memorial." Needless to say, that letter will go in a frame on my wall.

Enjoy the cooler weather that surely is just around the corner (some of it has already blown into Nashville), and my favorite time of year when they're playing both baseball and football. It doesn't get a whole lot better than that!

And thanks for continuing to be the best fans and friends anywhere.

"Still"

August 8, 2011

Hi Folks:

There's nothing like a good vacation to fire a person up and put him in the mood to get back to work again!

I've been away for the past three weeks, and I think my blood pressure has finally returned to normal following our 50th Opry Anniversary Celebration. Thanks again to each of you who helped make it a weekend I will always remember.

In the midst of all the excitement over that big event, though, I have neglected to share another important story with you in as much detail as I would like. And that's the upcoming show and dedication of the Bill Anderson Performing Arts Center in my adopted hometown of Commerce, Georgia, taking place on Saturday night September 17th.

The date has been listed on our Tour schedule for several weeks, but the listing has not contained all the information that it should have. Some of you have mistakenly thought this was to be a private event. Others have written that you'd like to attend, but you don't have a Pay Pal account and can't order tickets online. Let me try to put that to rest.

This event is definitely open to the public, and I would love nothing better than for it to be a complete sell-out. Tickets can be ordered several ways. First, go to www.wjjc.net and click on my picture. If that doesn't work, try http://wjjc.net/fall08red_009.htm. Or you can call Linda Potts at Community Bank & Trust - 706-335-3151.

For those who might not know, Commerce, Georgia, a small town northeast of Atlanta on Interstate 85, is the town where I, for all practical purposes, began my career as both a radio announcer and as a songwriter. My first hit, "City Lights," was written there, and for ten years I went back there and hosted an annual City Lights Festival, raising money to help build a performing arts center for the local high school and the community in general. Friends and fellow performers such as Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Ray Price, Mel Tillis and many others donated their time and their talents to help with the cause.

The townspeople very graciously have named the Center in my honor, and it's now up and running. This will be my first opportunity to see it and to perform there. Needless to say, it's something I've looked forward to for a long time. Tickets are only $25, and the money will go toward starting a Bill Anderson Performing Arts Scholarship to be awarded annually to a deserving Commerce High student. I hope you'll come help us fill every seat in the place!

In other news, you'll notice a few added tour dates for the fall, and while there's nothing concrete I can talk about right now, I plan to go back into the recording studio shortly and begin work on some new music. I have come across a song that I am particularly excited about, and nothing feeds a creative spirit like the opportunity to work on something new.

Meanwhile, let me see if I can find my desk again underneath all the stuff that has piled up while I've been away.

I know it's under here somewhere.

"Still,"

Upcoming Concert Dates:

Sept. 10th Greeneville, TN.
Sept. 17th Commerce, GA.
Sept. 23rd & 24th Branson, MO.
Sept. 27th, 28th and 29th Milwaukee, WI.
Oct. 1st Cody, WY.

Make sure to check the "TOUR" page at www.billanderson.com for more details.

July 5, 2011

Hi Folks:

And welcome to our monthly fan club newsletter.

This is the month we've long been pointing toward.....the 50th anniversary of my having been made a member of the Grand Ole Opry. The date was July 15, 1961, and this coming July 15th and 16th, we'll be commemorating it all with our big celebration here in Nashville. For those of you coming to be with us, travel safe, and we'll see you when you get to Music City. For those who can't make it in person, thanks for being with us in spirit. We'll feel your presence I'm sure, and continue to be grateful for your support over all these years.

I've been asked many times if we will be making DVD's of the weekend, and as much as I would like to be able to share the festivities with each of you, the answer is no. I don't want to have lights and cameras all over the place taking away from the spontaneity of the event. I don't want to turn a gathering of friends and fans into the making of a television special as is too often done in show business these days. I'm sure there will be plenty of still pictures, news footage, newspaper and magazine articles to give the celebration plenty of coverage. I appreciate your asking, but even more I appreciate your understanding my feelings.

I hope each of you enjoyed a relaxing July 4th holiday, and to our friends in Canada, a Happy Canada Day on July 1st. I premiered a new song on the Opry that tied in with Independence Day, and I have enjoyed reading your nice and supportive comments. It's called, "Old Army Hat," and has recently been recorded and released by Billy Ray Cyrus. I hope you'll check it out on YouTube, iTunes, or Billy Ray's new CD called "I'm American." It's based on a true story. I co-wrote it with a very talented writer named Walt Aldridge.

All three times that we performed it last week resulted in standing ovations inside the Opry House. There's no greater thrill for a performer, believe me.

My boxed set still won't be released until fall, but I learned late last week that it will now be titled "Bill Anderson - The First Ten Years - 1956 - 1966" rather than "The Early Years." Either title is fine with me, but in case you should start looking for it or thinking of ordering an advanced copy, I wanted to be sure you had the correct name. I've had a chance to browse the 64-page book that will accompany the 4-CD set, and Bear Family has done an incredible job of pulling together facts, figures, stories, and pictures. Hopefully, many of you will want to add this set to your record collection.

Speaking of new products, I understand from the folks at Hal Leonard Publishing that our new song folio, "The Best Of Bill Anderson" is now available in music stores everywhere. This songbook contains both words and music to 22 of my best known songs. If you can't find a copy in your local area, hang on because we plan to have copies for sale through our web site and at our personal appearances shortly.

I'll be taking about three weeks worth of family and vacation time following our big anniversary celebration, so the August fan club newsletter will probably be a bit later than our usual first of the month release time. Stay cool, stay well, and stay in touch. Thanks for continuing to support me and my career....still...after all this time.

Hey, that sounds like a good line for a song!

Always,

June 2, 2011

Hi Folks:

And thanks for joining us for the June issue of our fan club newsletter.

Many wonderful and exciting things have been happening in my world lately, not the least of which has been the arrival of my new little granddaughter from China.

If you'd like to see a short video of the Welcome Home party that friends and family hosted for her at the Nashville Airport last weekend, go to http://youtu.be/Wjos7fu8cNk. I think you'll enjoy it.

On the career front, we recorded two new sets of Family Reunion videos last week, and I think you'll be thrilled to see them both. The first was titled, "A Salute To The Kornfield," and featured, as you might imagine, a reunion of stars from the Hee Haw days. What fun it was to see so many of these folks again, but even more fun to watch them meet and greet one another after all this time. Some had not been together for almost 30 years. Our show was a "reunion" in the truest sense of the word.

The other show is called "Gettin' Together," and that's what so many of your Family Reunion favorites did. We "got together." After the marvelous Kornfield Day, I was a bit concerned that the second day's taping might not be able to carry the same energy and intensity, but I was so wrong. If anything, I think this may have been one of the best gatherings ever. Fabulous music...rip-roaring laughter...and what may have been the funniest thing we've ever done on camera. We actually made Larry Gatlin cover his eyes while we took a vote as to whether or not we would allow him to sing. There's more to it than that, but you've GOT to see it!

Elsewhere, I am about to record a patriotic television special with Billy Ray Cyrus which will air a minimum of 20-times on GAC later this summer. Billy Ray recorded a song I co-wrote called "Old Army Hat," on his new patriotic album, "I'm American," and I think he plans for us to perform it together on the show. It's a true story, and the former soldier who inspired the song...now in his 80's...hopes to appear on the show with us. It could and should be a very special moment.

I'm also beginning work on a new recording project. I'll share the details as soon as they come into focus. One thing's for sure, nothing is more exciting in this business than creating new music for your fans.

It's hard to believe our 50th Opry Anniversary Celebration is only a little over six w

eeks away. We're putting the finishing touches on our plans, and hope to mail out letters to those of you who are planning to attend no later than June 15th. For those still on the waiting list, we are continuing to have the occasional cancellation, so don't give up. We're trying out best to squeeze everyone in.

Thanks for continuing to be the greatest friends and fans a guy could have. We'll see you right back here again next month.

Still,

May 2, 2011

Hi Folks:

We had a great time up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this past weekend, and I want to thank so many of our fan club members who came out to the show. I hope we can do it again soon. Next chance will be June 11th in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

Lots of exciting news this go-around. I just found out a couple of days ago that on Sunday afternoon May 15th I am going to be honored with a plaque in the Music City Walk of Fame in downtown Nashville. These are permanent platinum and granite star-and-guitar sidewalk markers given to "country performers of national reputation elected by a majority of the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum's Board of Trustees."

To say that I am thrilled by this selection would be a vast understatement. If any of you plan to be in Nashville on May 15th, I hope you'll be able to attend the induction ceremony. U.S. Senator, Lamar Alexander, will induct me.

There has been a slight change in plans regarding the weekend of my 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversay celebration. Originally, I had thought it would be impossible for me to perform on both Opry shows that night, but now with some shuffling of our itinerary, I find that I will be able to appear on both the early and late shows July 16th. If I told you otherwise, it's because I didn't know any better at the time.

You'll notice on our Tour schedule that some of our concert dates are beginning to be listed as "acoustical shows" where I will be appearing in a songwriter-type setting with only one or two musicians. I have come to realize that there are several places around the country where my best chance of appearing in concert is to perform in these smaller, more intimate venues, and I'm excited about it. We're still working out the details regarding who the musicians will be and just how our show will be presented, but I've always enjoyed this type of show and find that many of our fans like the up-close-and-personal touch as well. We won't be cutting back on our full-band shows or our Country Family Reunion Road Shows, but will be doing the acoustical shows in addition to the others. You know me....full speed ahead, even after all these years.

You should be starting to see our Time-Life Hall of Fame infomercial on television any day now. This is the one I co-hosted with Linda Davis back in February, and for lovers of the classic country recordings, this exclusive TV offer is a must-have. We'll also be recording some new Country's Family Reunion shows later this month.

On the personal side of things, my son, Jamey, his wife, Beth, and their oldest son, Blake, will be leaving for China May 13th, and plan to bring their new daughter/little sister home on the 28th. I hope you'll keep them in your prayers as they travel half a world away.

It's always great to visit with you via our newsletter, and I thank you for continuing to want to be a part of all that's going on in Whisperville. 'Til next time, thanks for everything and my best to each of you.

"Still,"

April 4, 2011

Hi Folks:

I had a face-to-face meeting late last week with Richard Weize, the president of Bear Family Records in Germany, and he gave me a few answers to questions you have been asking about my upcoming boxed set.

First, he hopes to have it out this fall in plenty of time for the Christmas shopping season. I think the only thing holding up production now is for the accompanying booklet to be completed. It will be a 4-CD set and will cover the early years of my career from the late fifties to the mid-sixties. By my count, it will contain approximately 130 songs. The suggested retail price in stores will be $110. I'm extremely excited about it, and judging from your response, many of you are as well.

Our new songbook is also in production, and I think they are hoping to have it ready this summer. It will contain words and music to twenty-two of my best known songs, and I'm told will retail for $16.95. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this project as well.

It's been a sad few weeks here in Music City what with the loss of fellow artists Ferlin Husky and Mel McDaniel. One of my songwriting buddies, Harley Allen, also passed away. He and I were co-writers on Joe Nichols' hit, "I'll Wait For You," a few years ago. All three of these guys touched my life in their own special and unique ways. The country music community will certainly miss them all.

On a brighter note, several things are being added to my calendar that I'm excited about. I've been invited to be a Grand Marshall in the CMA Music Festival (formerly known as Fan Fair) kickoff parade through downtown Nashville on Wednesday June 8th. They said since I was a participant in the very first Fan Fair back in 1972...and have attended all but one in the years since...they'd like for me to have a prominent place in this year's event. I'll look forward to waving to lots of you lining the sidewalks of Music City.

Earlier, on May 11th, I'll be part of a big CMA songwriters' night at Joe's Pub in New York City. Steve Wariner will be there along with Dean Dillon (my co-writer on "A Lot Of Things Different"), Craig Wiseman, and Bob DiPiero. We don't get to perform in the Big Apple all that often, so this should be fun as well.

We're continuing to focus on our 50th Opry Anniversay celebration coming up July 15-16, and plans are taking shape nicely. We are having the occasional cancellation, so for those of you at the top of the waiting list to attend, be patient and keep your fingers crossed. A few more spots will probably open up.

On the personal side, my grandson, Gabe, is continuing his cancer treatments at Vanderbilt Childrens' Hospital, and all appears to be going as well as possible. All our family continues to appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

'Til next time, thanks for everything, and my best to each of you.

"Still"

March 2, 2011


Hi Folks:

Welcome to our monthly fan club newsletter.

From my earliest days in the music business, I've always tried to read my fan mail. I don't always have the chance to respond to it personally, but down through the years it has been important to me to know what's on your mind insofar as my music, my concert appearances, and my career in general are concerned. On several occasions you have pointed out things to me that I might have otherwise overlooked. It happened again recently.

A fan was writing about my upcoming 50th Anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry, and he asked if I had thought of putting out a songbook in connection with this milestone event. He was suggesting a folio with full sheet music to the most popular songs I have written and co-written over the years. My answer was no, I had not thought of it. But I loved the idea.

I took this person's suggestion to my music publisher and he got excited about it too. He approached the top producer of songbooks in the country, and almost instantly they jumped on board with us. And now, thanks to an idea that stemmed from one of you, it appears as though there will be a 50th Anniversary Bill Anderson songbook. The contracts still have to be signed, of course, but how cool is this whole thing? I love it.

But now comes the hard part. How do we cut the list from the hundreds of songs that I have written down to twenty or so titles that will fit into a songbook? A few songs are obvious: "City Lights," which was the first one; "Whiskey Lullaby," "Still," and "Give It Away," which were all voted Song Of The Year. But what about the ones in between? I'm seriously thinking of putting all my titles onto little scraps of paper and drawing them out from a hat. Not exactly scientific, I know, but it might save a lot of agony.

Thanks to the gentleman who wrote, and to each of you who have helped me look a lot smarter than I am over the years. I appreciate you more than you know.

And holding that thought, our online fan club has now grown five times larger than it was when we first started out. Thanks for wanting to be part of all that goes on in and around Whisperville. I'm grateful to each of you, and hope to see you somewhere along the trail in the not-so-distant future.

"Still",

February 1, 2011


Hi Folks:

Let me begin by saying thank you to so many of our fan club members who have written and called to tell me that you are keeping my grandson, Gabe, in your thoughts and prayers.

For those who don't know, Gabe, 6, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer...a type so uncommon in children that only 80-to-100 cases are known in the entire world. He is undergoing treatment at Vanderbilt Hospital here in Nashville, and the doctors have encouraged us by calling his condition "very treatable." I hope that you'll continue to keep Gabe, his mom and dad, Jamey and Beth, and all our family in your prayers. Somebody told me one time that, "God's always listening...even if you're whispering." In my case, I guess that's a good thing!

Otherwise, things are going well as we are spending most of our time gearing up for the coming year. Next week I will be recording a television infomercial for the people at Time/Life who will be introducing what I believe will be a 10-CD set of Country Music Hall of Fame recordings. I haven't seen the script, so I might not have the details exactly right, but you should see me and my co-host, Linda Davis, popping up on your television screens telling you all about it sometime soon. From what I've been told, it's going to be a very exciting collection of traditional country music recordings and one I'll be proud to advertise and promote.

My booking agent was in town last week laying out plans for our tour dates later this year. We are focusing on both the "Night With A Legend" shows as well as the "Country's Family Reunion Road Shows." I'm hoping we'll be announcing lots of new concerts shortly.

Rumor has it that we'll be recording some new Family Reunion shows in May. I'm also in discussions about making some new recordings, and I'm continuing to try and write a few songs. I guess I've been doing it too long to stop now!

Our country music community has been saddened recently by the passing of Opry star and fellow Hall of Fame member, Charlie Louvin, who died at age 83 of pancreatic cancer. I just learned that James O'Gwynn, who had a hit with my song, "My Name Is Mud," back in the sixties also has died. We've lost the great steel guitar player, Buddy Charlton, longtime Wheeling star, Doc Williams, and several behind-the-scenes music folks as well. As I wrote recently on my web site, we all know that death is a part of life, but it still doesn't make losing friends any easier.

We are continuing to press forward, of course, with plans for our 50th Opry Celebration coming up in July. For those of you on the waiting list for tickets, please be patient. We are getting the occasional cancellation, so hopefully everybody who wants to come will be able to come.

Have a great month of February in spite of the cold, snowy weather that's gripping so much of the country, and thanks for continuing to be part of our fan club family. Keep watching our web site for updates, and I'll see you back here in March.

"Still",

January 3, 2011

Hi Folks:

And Happy New Year!

I had a wonderful Christmas, and I hope that you did as well. There were several things that served to make this Christmas one that I will long remember.

First, it was the first white Christmas in Nashville since 1993, which goes to show how seldom we get snow in late December here in the mid-South. We got just enough of the white flakes to cover the ground, but not enough to cause major problems on the roads and highways. I spent a large portion of the day just staring out my window and marvelling at the beauty of it all.

I went to an early Christmas Eve service at church since the snow was scheduled to start falling around midnight. It never ceases to touch me when they turn off the lights in the sanctuary, and the congregation lights candles and sings "Silent Night." I thought back to so many Christmas Eve nights that I spent with my mama and daddy, and especially how daddy's rich voice could rise above the crowd and add so much extra feeling to that wonderful song.

I listened to George Hamilton IV on the Opry and heard him tell the story of how "Silent Night" was written, and was moved by both the majesty and the simplicity of it all.

Celebrating Little Jimmy Dickens' 90th birthday on the Opry stage a week before Christmas helped get the season off to a great start. Seeing, hearing, and feeling the Opry audience's warm response to my song, "Still Believing In Christmas," provided a highlight as well.

As a Christmas gift to Opry members, the management gave each of us a wooden ball-point pen made from the pews in the Opry House that had been rendered useless by the floods we had back in May. And the box that held this special pen was lined in red velvet....the red velvet from the Opry House curtain we've all stood behind and watched rise and fall so many times. What an incredible gift.

I read somewhere during the holidays that the giving and exchanging of Christmas cards is on the decline, but somebody forgot to tell my fans. I received hundreds of beautiful Christmas cards from all around the world, and I read and appreciated every single one. Thanks to all of you who took the time and went to the trouble to let me know you were thinking of me during this most special of seasons.

I was able to spend time during the holidays with all three of my children and all seven of my grandchildren. There were many incredible moments, but none so revealing as my two-and-a-half year old granddaughter, Hallie, using the toy thermometer I gave her to take her doll's temperature. She removed the thermometer from the doll's mouth, looked at it and said calmly, "Perfect."

She described my Christmas with one word. Perfect.

My best to each of you,

December 1, 2010

Hi Folks:

It's time once again for our monthly fan club visit. I hope each of you is well and that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving holiday.

I had a great day with all the food, family, friends, and fun at my house. At one time, I counted twenty people gathered in my kitchen/great room. Almost everybody left with a container of food tucked up under their arm, and my refrigerator is STILL full. Guess who'll be dining on leftovers right up until Christmas!

I imagine by now most of you have heard that we've been able to reconfigure some of the seating for our 50th Anniversary Celebration dinner next July, and many of you who were on the waiting list now have confirmed reservations. We really worked hard on this, and we appreciate your patience. Hopefully, everyone who wants to come will now have a place.

Next year looks like it's going to be a banner year for me in ways other than just my 50th year on the Grand Ole Opry. In case you don't know, Bear Family records in Germany, the folks who put out some of the greatest packages of recorded music in the world, is planning to release the first Bill Anderson boxed set sometime in 2011. Plans are for a 5-CD collection of material I recorded between 1958 and 1966. Plus, we are getting together lots of old pictures and some of the original demonstration recordings of songs I wrote that later became hits for other artists. As Eddie Stubbs would say, this is some "deep catalog" stuff here, but I think it's something our fans will truly enjoy, especially those of you who weren't following my career in the early days. You'll get to hear me in the days before my voice changed....and before I learned to "whisper!"

I've been writing quite a few new songs lately, so hopefully one of two of those will see the light of day next year as well. At some point I need to slow down long enough to update my autobiography, but I don't know yet just when that will be. More than one publisher has already expressed interest and urged me to move forward. Movie mogul, Samuel Goldwyn, is quoted as once having said that a person should wait until they are dead before they write their autobiography. I hope to get mine done long before that!

I hope each of you has a wonderful Christmas season. Don't forget to check out our Christmas specials at www.billanderson.com., and we'll see you back here again next year.

Thanks for everything,

November 2, 2010


Hi Folks:

Before I say anything else, please allow me say "thank you" to each of you who took time over the past few days to remember me on my birthday.

My e-mail inbox was overflowing, as was the pretty wicker basket Judy provides for cards and letters at the office. E-mails, cards, letters, phone calls, text messages...they were all appreciated more than you know.

I had a wonderful birthday. Spent time with family and friends, and almost didn't mind adding one more candle to my cake. I continue to be thankful for my many, many blessings.

I guess most of you have probably heard by now that our 50th Grand Ole Opry Anniversary celebration set for next July is sold out. I can't believe so many of you want to come mark this very special time in my life with me. But I am so thankful that you do.

We have begun putting together a waiting list for people who didn't get their reservations made in time, and we are hopeful that we will be able to add extra seating for our Friday night dinner and show. The folks at the Hall of Fame are working closely with us in that regard, and right now I'd say at least some of the people on the waiting list will be able to attend. I'm sure we'll probably have a few last minute cancellations as well, so don't hesitate to go ahead and give us your information if you've not done so already. We'll do our best to work everyone in who wants to come.

This is the time of year when things start taking shape for the year ahead, and we've got several exciting projects in the works. Our 50th Anniversay Family Reuinion DVD is about to become available from Larry Black and the folks at Gabriel Communications. This is the 4-DVD set hosted by Vince Gill and featuring artists, friends, and songs from my 50-years in country music. I haven't seen any of the footage as yet, but some of you have, and you've told me that you are liking it a lot. You can order a copy from www.cfrvideos.com or from Gabriel Communications, P.O. Box 210483, Nashville, TN. 37221.

We will continue to take the Family Reunion Road Show on the road next year, and, in fact, will be performing at our first casino in February. If that show, in Michigan, is successful, we are hoping that casinos all across the country will want to host future gatherings as well. I'll be performing in Newfoundland for the first time in my career in March, and while I know it will be cold up there, I'm looking forward to the trip. There aren't many places where I've never appeared, and even after all these years, I still get excited when we plow new ground.

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, let me wish each of you a Happy Turkey Day. Take care, and we'll see you back here in a month or so. Thanks for everything.

October 8, 2010

Hi Folks:

You've probably heard me say over the years that October is my favorite month of the year.

Here in middle Tennessee, the weather is perfect, although we could use a little rain. The days are clear and bright, the nights are crisp and cool, the baseball playoffs are underway, the football season is in full swing, and I'm a happy camper. I hope all is well your world, too, wherever you might be.

It's still early, but October has already been a great month for me on the music front. Last night, the ROPE organization (Reunion of Professional Entertainers) presented me with their prestigious Entertainer award....beautifully engraved crystal that reads, "honoring your lifetime achievements in country music." I am most appreciative, and proud, too, that ROPE also saw fit to honor my friend and fellow entertainer, Charlie Louvin, with a similar award. His lifetime achievements are legendary.

[More:]

Earlier in the week, the folks at Country's Family Reunion dedicated an entire day of television taping to me, calling it Bill Anderson's 50th Celebration. Vince Gill hosted the proceedings, and every song sung was one I had written or co-written. The room was filled with music from my friends and heroes, not to mention a whole lot of laughter and love. A scattered tear or two crept in along the way, but they were happy tears. I'm so grateful to everybody who helped put this special day together. Fortunately, you'll be able to share it with us soon. I'm told that the DVD's will be available around the middle of November, in time for Christmas giving. I hope you'll want to add one to your collection.

Speaking of 50th Celebrations, tickets are really going fast for our Grand Ole Opry 50th Anniversary Celebration set for next July. If you're planning to come but have been putting off making your reservations, I hope you won't put it off much longer. It looks like we're heading toward a sell-out, and I don't want any of my friends to be left out.

The Po' Folks Band and I will be on the Opry quite a bit this month, taking time out on the 22nd to travel to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a big show with several of our friends. We'll be back in Branson in early November (7th & 8th) for another Family Reunion Road Show featuring some folks that haven't travelled with us before. I hope we'll see lots of you along the trail.

Thanks for continuing to be the best fans and friends a guy could ever be lucky enough to have, and enjoy the season. We'll visit again soon.

September 1, 2010


Hi Folks:

This is the first of two fan club newsletters we will be sending out this month. Consider this our regular edition. In a couple of weeks we'll be sending a special edtion letting you in on the big plans we've made for my 50th Anniversary at the Grand Ole Opry set for July, 2011.

Everything seems to be falling into place, and we're sure excited. We've been setting up special phone lines for you to call, special facilities to handle your questions, your credit card payments, and a million and one other things that go into trying to pull a big event like this together. Hopefully, we'll have most of the answers in place by the middle of this month and we can start to rock 'n roll. In a country kind of way, of course!

I've been getting back into doing some songwriting these past few weeks after having taken some time away from writing this summer. Billy Ray Cyrus recorded a song I helped write a few days ago, and I'm really excited about it. I'll tell you more as the release date approaches. It's part of a patriotic album he's doing, and it's based on a powerful true story. I think the Disney folks have it scheduled to come out in November.

The Grand Ole Opry is headed home to the Opry House on the 28th of this month after almost five months of bouncing around from place to place due to the Nashville floods. Supposedly they've done a lot of remodeling, particularly backstage, while we've been away. I can't wait to see what all they've done.

Did you know you can take backstage tours at the Opry House now when you come to Nashville? They even offer them on show nights following the performances. I think you'd enjoy that. You might want to put it on your list of things to do when you plan your next visit to Music City.

I'm going to repeat something that I wrote on my web site recently because some of you might not have seen it. Several of you have written to me recently telling me of problems you've had receiving our online fan club newsletters and of certain issues you've had with some of the messages that have been posted on our message boards. My webmaster has asked that from now you please address your questions and concerns directly to board@billanderson.com rather than send them to me. This will allow her to begin solving your problems much quicker. Thanks.

We'll be back in your mailbox again in a couple of weeks, so be watching for us. Meantime, take care, and my best to you all.

August 9, 2010

Hi Folks:

Our fan club newsletter is late this month, but I have a good excuse. I've been on vacation.

Before I left, I asked my friends on Facebook where I should go to get away and relax. I received over a hundred suggestions, many of them extremely appealing. Unfortunately, I couldn't go everywhere, but I ended up dividing my time between a week in the mountains and a week at the beach. I've come home refreshed, and ready to hop back in the saddle again.

Plans are continuing to take shape for our 50th Anniversary celebration at the Grand Ole Opry set for next July. I'm having lunch with Opry manager, Pete Fisher, tomorrow, in fact, to discuss some ideas with him. Kathy Gaddy, who was my secretary and personal assistant for thirty-five years, has offered to come out of retirement for a few months to oversee the distribution of tickets and be the liason between our office and our fans. Many of you know Kathy already, so you'll be in contact with an old friend as you plan to come be with us.

Speaking of friends, the nice folks at Country Weekly magazine have always been very kind to me, but I want to thank them for being especially nice here lately. There have been several pictures, record reviews, and stories concerning me and my career in recent issues. They even ran a contest where they offered some of my new CD's and my latest book as prizes. I hope you will join me in expressing your appreciation to them. They do an incredible job.

Speaking of our newest CD, "Songwriter," I'm happy to report that it continues to sell well and to receive excellent coverage in the press. Judging from your comments, I'd say the two favorite cuts at this point appear to be ballads: "Papaw's Sunday Boots" and "If Anything Ever Happened To You." I'm glad you like them, and remind you that you can still order an autographed copy for yourself or as a gift from both our web site at www.billanderson.com or from P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN., 37076.

[More:]

We'll be on the Opry several times during August, then back on the road for a few dates in September. Check the Tour page, and if we're anywhere close to you, I hope you'll come see us. Notice some of the appearances are the Country's Family Reunion Road Shows. If you've never seen one of those, they are different and a whole lot of fun.

Well, lots of things have piled up on my desk while I've been gone, so I'd better stop yakking and start sifting through them. Thanks so much for continuing to support me and my career, and my best to each of you.

Stay cool.

July 1, 2010


Hi Folks:

I'll be honest with you. I'm not particularly sad to see the month of June come to an end.

During the past thirty days, I've been to funerals for my first wife, Bette, mother of my two daughters, and for Jimmy Dean, one of the closest friends I have ever had.

I've had dental surgery and seen my tour bus catch on fire. The nicest dress suit I've ever owned, which was hanging in the back of the bus, now smells like I cooked it on a charcoal grill, and

the matching boots have an odor similar to what I imagine a race car tire smells like at the end of the Daytona 500.

And then, to top it all off, I returned home from the Grand Ole Opry this past Saturday night to find that while I was performing, a violent storm had roared through my neighborhood, toppling a large tree in my neighbor's yard, causing it to fall across the road and sever the power lines to my house. By the time it was reconnected, I had been without power (and air conditioning in 90-plus degree weather) for almost 48-hours.

I sure am glad it's finally July!!

From looking at my calendar, this month should be a breeze. We only have one road trip....of course, it does take us from Indiana to Alberta in the space of four days...and a week's worth of vacation time to look forward to as the month winds down. There are always surprises, but I can only hope that during this month all the surprises will be good ones.

I'll be visiting with Bill Cody on WSM Radio July 2nd at the Hall of Fame, and if you can't be there with us in person, you can dial us in on www.wsmonline.com at 9:15 a.m. Central time.

I'll be hosting the Ernest Tubb Midnight Jamboree on July 17th, although I'm told the broadcast will not air until the following weekend. And I'll be making five appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.

I don't know what I'll do on the 4th of July. We're not working, so I hope I can just sit around my house, eat a burger, and be grateful for all my many blessings.

Not the least of which will be that it's not June anymore.

"Still,"

Hi Gang:

Bette Anderson, my former wife and the mother of my two daughters, Terri and Jenni, died Monday following a long, vigorous battle with cancer.

She was 69.

Many of you who follow my career these days might not know nor remember, but Bette and I were married from December, 1959, until June, 1969. She gave me two incredible daughters who, in turn, gave us four equally incredible grandchildren.

She died peacefully in the early hours of Memorial Day morning. I had been able to spend some time with her on Sunday afternoon in her room at Alive Hospice here in Nashville. She was tired, but able to converse and think clearly. Terri and Jenni, whom many of yo

u do know, were at her side when she passed.

If any of you would like to express your condolences to the girls (they are grown ladies, of course, but to me they will always be "my girls") there is a way for you to do so online. Our local newspaper, the Tennessean, has listed Bette's obituary in today's editions. Go to tennessean.com, click on the Obituary icon, and look for Bette's name. You can leave a message by signing the Guest Book at the bottom of the page.

Please do this rather than trying to contact Terri and Jenni through me. I simply do not have the time nor the capacity to see that they get all the messages.

We come into this life knowing that death is part of the life experience, but that doesn't make it any easier for us to say goodbye to those we love. Bette was a wonderful mother to our daughters, an open and giving "stepmom" to my son, Jamey, and I'm proud to say, a proven and trusted friend to me.

Rest in peace, Sweet Lady. We will miss you.

May 6, 2010

Hi Folks:

Even after posting both on Facebook and on my web site that my family and I suffered no major damage due to the Nashville floods, I was still receiving 25 to 30 e-mails an hour last night and this morning from folks wanting to know if we were all o.k.

I truly appreciate your concern.

There's no way for me to possibly answer each individual letter, so I thought I'd use this "blast" to reassure all our fans and friends that all is well in Whisperville.

Even though I live on the lake and water came about halfway up into my yard, the inside of my house stayed dry. Across the way at my office, however, we did have a couple of inches of water in the basement. We store our souvenir merchandise there along with some of our stage equipment, but I was able to move most of it to higher ground and avoid major damage. The carpet has been torn out and will have to be replaced, but that's only a minor inconvenience. To many in our city, and many in the music business, these floods were a disaster.

I'm sure in the coming weeks and months you'll be hearing of fund-raising events....auctions, radiothons and telethons, concerts, etc....where you can pitch in and help. Country music fans have always been the best at times like this, so I'll try to keep you informed.

On a lighter note: My secretary, Judy, was going through some of our merchandise items and found a few Bill Anderson t-shirts that were damp in the bottom of a big box. She removed them and took a dozen or so outside into the sunshine, spreading them out along the railing that surrounds our deck. I'm sure the neighbors thought Jed Clampett and his family had moved into the neighborhood when they spotted all those clothes blowing in the breeze. I can't believe neither of us had a camera.

We're headed to Canada tomorrow for a series of concerts across Ontario. If you're in that area, come see us. Otherwise, thanks again for caring enough to get in touch, and please rest assured that my family and I are among Nashville's lucky ones.

Oh, you can check out our new video this weekend at youtube.com/billandersontv among other places. Hope you like it.

April 7, 2010

Hi Folks:

I’m sorry that our monthly newsletter is a little late this time, but as most of you know, we’ve been on a lengthy road trip, and we just got back to Nashville yesterday.

We traveled 5,452 miles in a little over two weeks, met a lot of great country music fans, and in spite of oil leaks and “ghosts” on our tour bus, we had a great time.

If you’d be interested in seeing some excerpts from our trip, both onstage and behind the scenes footage, go to www.youtube.com/billandersontv. Our manager, Lee, and our sound engineer, Ryan, took along their cameras and shot some fun stuff.

In the future, we’ll be posting other things on this site, including our new video on the song, “Thanks To You,” from our latest CD. I’m hoping you’ll mark this address and visit us here often.

Our next road dates will be the Country’s Family Reunion shows in Branson April 18th and 19th. So many of you tell us you watch these shows on RFD-TV and that you've purchased the DVD’s for your at-home collection. If you haven’t seen one of our “live” shows, I hope you’ll make plans to visit us soon. We’ll be at the RFD Theater in Branson in April, June, September, and November.

And we’ll be performing at the big Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California, on Sunday April 26th. We don’t get to the west coast all that often, so I hope lots of our friends out that way will plan to come see us. Then it’s back to Ontario, Canada, for another group of concerts in May. It keeps us busy, but we like it that way.

Our new CD, “Songwriter,” will be available for downloading soon, the new video will be posted online, and the physical product will begin popping up on store shelves. Thanks to those who have ordered advance copies from our office and our web site and those who have purchased copies at our concerts. Your kind comments have been most encouraging.

Stay well, enjoy the beautiful Spring weather that’s on its way, and we’ll see you back here again next month. Thanks, and all my best to each of you.

March 1, 2010

Hi Folks:

Having been in the entertainment business for over fifty years now, there’s not a lot of things that I haven’t done. Last week, however, I discovered one.

I had never before invited a production crew into my home to record a video. And before the day was over, I realized why I had never done it. And why it will be a hot day in February before I do it again.

Actually, it was fun. But imagine how nerve-wracking it would be to wake up to dozens of lights, cameras, sound equipment, electrical cords, and things that defy description snaking their way through your living room, dining room, kitchen, and great room at seven o’clock in the morning. So many cars parked in your driveway that the neighbors think you’ve opened a used car lot. People swarming everywhere barking out orders…. “raise that light,” “get me a different lens,” “grab me some fresh coffee.” At one point, I counted sixteen people standing in my kitchen scarfing down pizza.

My dressing room became a makeup station. A guest bedroom became the ladies’ wardrobe room. Furniture was moved and rearranged. Pictures and plants were suddenly in places I never intended for them to be. Outside, my sun deck and my yard morphed into backdrop scenery. And I’m out there in near-freezing temperatures trying to concentrate on singing a love song called “Thanks To You.” There were moments when I wasn’t nearly as thankful as I sounded.

They carried the last piece of equipment out my front door shortly before midnight. I didn’t fall asleep. I passed out.

OK, so I'm exagerating. But only slightly. And like I said, it actually was fun. I’m hopeful that the result will be a warm, fuzzy video that you will want to share with those in your life that you are thankful for….whether it be a husband, a wife, a significant other, a child, a grandchild, a dog, or even God. After all, without those special relationships, there wouldn't be a whole lot in life to make it worth living.

I’ll let you know when the video will be online for you to see…or on television…or available for you to own on a special DVD that we are planning. It’s an exciting time to be in this business, because each day the world gets smaller and there are exciting new ways of communicating and connecting with others.

Next time, though, I think I’ll do my connecting from somebody else’s living room.

“Still,”

January 28, 2010

Hi Folks:

I’m writing our February newsletter a few days early because we’ve got some ice, snow and cold weather headed toward Music City. If it hits as predicted, this town will be shut down completely on February 1st!

It’s an exciting time here in Whisperville, what with the release of both our new book and now our new CD, “Songwriter.” We’ve got some fancy and far-reaching plans for this new record, including the production of a video and distribution of the music in all the latest, most innovative ways.

Right now, though, the album is only available to our fans and fan club members through our website at www.billanderson.com and our office at P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076. If you order one of the first 200 copies, it will come autographed at a special introductory price of only $12.95 plus $5 shipping. That offer is good, though, only until March 1st.

Thanks so much for the steady stream of orders for our new book, “Letters To My Fans – Volume I.” Your comments after receiving and reading the book have been most welcome as well. Nearly every letter and e-mail ends with, “I can hardly wait for Volume II.” That’s awfully nice, and truthfully, neither can I!

Some other fun things coming up: Those of you who have followed my career since back in the eighties will have a special treat on Saturday night February 6th. Lisa and Laurie, the Harper Twins, who were a big part of my road show for almost a decade, will return to the Opry stage with us that night to celebrate their 50th birthday and to reunite with their fans and friends. In all my years, I have never had a sweeter, more talented pair of entertainers working with me than the Harpers. I hope you’ll plan to tune in for our “reunion” on AM650, on The Roadhouse @ Sirius/XM satellite radio, or via www.opry.com.

Speaking of “reunions,” we were in the studio for three days last week putting together some new Country’s Family Reunion videos, and one additional day for a Songwriters’ Reunion. You can get all the information about ordering at www.cfrvideos.com. They have a wonderful new website, by the way.

Stay warm and well wherever you are, and thanks for everything. See you back here again soon.

Still,

January 5, 2010

Hi Folks:

Welcome to our first fan club newsletter of not only the New Year but of the new decade. Gee, where does the time go??

I hope each of you enjoyed a great Christmas and that you had the chance to spend it with the people who are the most special in your life. I did, and for me, life doesn’t get any better than that.

With seven grandkids between the ages of one and sixteen, you can only imagine the chaos at our Christmas gatherings, but it’s “good chaos.” We ate and we opened gifts and we tried on new shirts and new shoes and we laughed and then we ate some more. And now “losing weight” is at the top of everyone’s list of New Year’s Resolutions!

I usually don’t make “resolutions” as such, but I’ve got one this time. Actually, it’s more of a New Decade Resolution, so I’ve got more than just one year in which to get it done.

I am resolving to do my best to write at least one more song that makes it onto the national popularity charts. If I’m able to do that sometime between 2010 and 2019, I will have put one song into the charts every decade for the past seven. Nobody in country music has ever done that, and I’d sure like to be the first. Cross your fingers that somehow it might just happen. And maybe sooner rather than later.

What else is going on? Our new CD, “Songwriter,” is being manufactured as I write this letter, our new book, “Letters To My Fans – Volume I,” is being shipped from the printer's, and this upcoming year is bursting with excitement and promise. We’ll be recording some new Family Reunion TV shows in mid-January, setting a busier tour schedule than we’ve had for quite some time, and looking forward to taking our music to lots of interesting places as the year progrresses.

Thanks for being a part of our fan club and for your continuing support of all that’s going on in and around Whisperville. We'll continue to keep you updated with newsletters the first of every month. Stay warm.

"Still,"

December 1, 2009

Hi Folks:

I hope each of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I appreciate all your colorful cards, letters, and e-mails wishing me the same.

I had a great day. All three of my children were at my house, along with all seven of my grandchildren. We had a fire going in both of my fireplaces and one burning in the fire-pit outside. We roasted marshmallows, shot a few hundred games of pool, watched parades, ball games, and cartoons on the giant-screen TV downstairs, and ate ourselves silly.

And we each had so much to be thankful for.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas is now just around the corner. I guess I’m old-fashioned, but I don’t sing Christmas songs on stage until after Thanksgiving is over. I heard Christmas music in the stores back before Halloween, but I prefer to take my celebrations one-holiday-at-a-time. How about you??

We’ve got a lot to be excited about coming up in 2010. I’ll have a new CD and a new book out early in the year, and based upon the success of our first Country’s Family Reunion Road Show in Branson, we’ll probably be touring more than we have in recent years. Hopefully, we’ll be coming in your direction.

A reminder for those of you who want to continue receiving the printed edition of our fan club newsletters next year: We need you to send us your $8 check as soon as possible so your service will go uninterrupted. And thanks to each of you who have already done so.

Have a terrific holiday season, spend as much of it as you can with the special people in your life, and we’ll see you back here again next year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

Still,

November 2, 2009

Hi Folks:

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday, and I thank all of you who sent me cards, letters, and e-mails. It’s awfully nice to be remembered on special occasions.

The Tennessee Titans even won their first game of the year in honor of my birthday and wished me a “Happy Birthday” on the Jumbotron at the stadium. Had my car battery not died in the parking lot (probably from the shock of the Titans winning for a change!) the day would have been perfect. As it was, I pulled out my trusty-dusty jumper cables, solicited the help of a nice man parked nearby, and headed home without too much hassle.

Did you see the article in the November 9th issue of the National Examiner about country music artists over seventy years old? I don’t normally read the tabloids, but a fan club member alerted me to this, and I’m glad she did. The story featured pictures of George Jones, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, Willie Nelson, Bobby Bare and myself. It talked about young people discovering our music by saying, “These young people want to hear the real deal, not pop songs with fiddle or steel guitar tacked on.”

Thank you very much.

Speaking of older country music, would any of you out there anywhere happen to have in your archives a picture of me and Roger Miller together? When I went to his hometown a couple of weeks ago, several members of the Board of Directors at the Roger Miller Museum were asking me for such a picture. Seems they have plenty of video footage of us, but not a single photograph to hang on the wall. I’ve searched my scrapbooks and can’t locate one. I realize this is probably like looking for the needle in the haystack, but I thought I’d ask.

I’m beginning to doubt that we’ll have our new book or our new CD available in time for Christmas gift-giving, but we’re still trying and hoping. If they aren’t ready in time, we should easily have them both by the first of the year. Don’t forget the new “Precious Memories” version of our Country’s Family Reunion series available at www.cfrvideos.com, and our first Family Reunion Road Show live at the RFD Theater in Branson November 20th and 21st.

And an early “Happy Thanksgiving” to each of you from someone who is always thankful for your friendship and support.

October 5, 2009

Hi Folks:

It's been almost a year since we converted our fan club from a dues-paying club that communicated with its members three or four times a year via the postal service into a free, online club that tries very hard to keep its members updated on a consistent and timely basis.

I had no idea when we started this new format whether it would work or not, but in the ten-plus months that we've been online, our membership has more than tripled. For this, I thank each of you.

During our transition year of 2009, we offered our members who did not have computer access the opportunity to continue to receive our monthly newsletters through the mail for one year. All they had to do was to send us twelve self-addressed, stamped envelopes, and we would take care of the rest. I was surprised at the number of folks who accepted this option, and so far as I know, this has worked very well also.

As we come to the end of this year, we've been asked by many to please continue the printed newsletters into the future, and after much in-house discussion, we have decided to do so. However, to make it easier on everybody, we're going to change the procedure ever so slightly.

Instead of your going to the trouble of addressing and sending us a year's supply of stamped envelopes, we are asking that you send us one check for $8.00 to cover the costs of postage and mailing. (Canadian members please send $10 US). We will address and mail the newsletters to you each month just as we've been doing. I think you will agree that this method will simplify things all the way around.

You can send your check to us anytime between now and the first of next year and we'll guarantee uninterrupted service from January through December, 2010. Simply make it out to The Bill Anderson Fan Club, and mail it to us at P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076. We'll take care of everything else.

And by the way, here's something else I'm excited about: All our club members, online and otherwise, will be offered an opportunity to purchase a copy of our new CD before it goes on sale to the general public. We will also conduct a random drawing from our membership list and send some autographed copies to the selected folks free of charge. I've been told that we can fulfill orders in plenty of time for Christmas gift-giving, so stay tuned. In the next few weeks you'll be receiving all the necessary information.

Thanks to each of you for your continued interest in me and my music. Your help and your support never go unnoticed or unappreciated. There's lots of exciting new stuff coming your way, including a new web site design built around our upcoming album release. Hang on, folks. Even after all these years, we're still having fun!!

And you're "Still" the ones!

September 3, 2009

Hi Folks:

It’s good to be visiting with you again through our Fan Club newsletter. Thanks for continuing to stay connected to all that’s going on here in WhisperWorld.

I had quite a walk down memory lane just before I left on my recent vacation. I sat for most of an entire afternoon in Larry Black’s office watching tapes of “The Bill Anderson Show,” the syndicated half-hour weekly TV program that I hosted from 1965 to 1974.

As you’ve probably heard me say, there are very few of those old episodes still around, but we’ve uncovered somewhere between 20 and 25, and most of them I hadn’t seen in over thirty years.

It was so much fun watching me interact with guests like Johnny Cash, June Carter, and Mama Maybelle Carter. There was a half-hour devoted entirely to Faron Young, a performance from a young and shy Waylon Jennings, and a show with 13-year old Tanya Tucker. I asked Tanya on the show if she liked boys. She replied snappily, “No, I like motorcycles!”

Even the commercials for our longtime sponsors, Stanback Headache Tablets and Powders and Homelite Chain Saws, were still in the shows. And some of our hair styles and clothes were downright laugh-out-loud funny.

Larry and I were watching these shows in an attempt to try and come up with a way to make them available for our fans via DVD. We are currently having the tapes digitized and dealing with the economics and legalities of it all. I hope we’re going to have something to offer you before too long. I'll keep you posted.

I’ve said many times that I don’t like to live in the past. But while I was watching those shows I realized it sure is a fun place to visit from time to time.

All my best,

August 3, 2009

Hi Folks:

And welcome to our August fan club newsletter.

I’m told we have gained several hundred new members since our last visit , so a very special word of thanks and welcome to each of you.

I’ll be spending most of this month in the recording studio working on a new album. I had over a thousand pictures taken recently (1,267 to be exact), so hopefully at least one of them will look good enough to put on the cover. When you reach my age, you never know!

The plan at this stage is to make the album a “fun” project with several up-tempo, laugh-along/sing-along songs. I’ve written and recorded so many sad songs over the years that I figure this will be a welcome change of pace. There will be a serious ballad or two as well, but the overall focus of the CD will be on having a good time. Cross your fingers with us that it turns out the way we’ve planned.

My new book, “Letters To My Fans – Volume I,” is in the middle stages of production right now, and like the new CD, we hope to have it available before the end of the year. In this business, however, you never know.

I am scheduled to have all my vocal parts recorded for the new project by August 18th. On the morning of the 19th, I plan to be on my way to the coast of Maine for a late summer getaway. I’ve made no secret of the fact that that area is just about my favorite place to recharge my batteries when they start running down, and I’m sure this visit will be no exception. I may even duck back over into the Maritimes and visit Canada again while I’m up that way. I’ll be back on the Opry and back out on the road again in early September.

I hope to see you soon somewhere up or down the trail. My thanks and best wishes always.

Hi Folks:

And depending on when you receive this, I hope you either have or had a Happy 4th of July!

June was a busy month for us what with our Fan Club Dinner & Show sandwiched into an already-busy week with the CMA Music Festival. Thanks to all of you who came, and to those who weren’t able to make it this year, we’ll look for you next time we all get together.

If you haven’t seen the video clips from the show on our web site, go to www.billanderson.com and click onto the News item from the 2009 CMA Music Fest. There's a fifteen year old girl singing on there that I'm mighty proud of!

I’m going to be on the Grand Ole Opry quite a bit during July, then I’ll be taking time off in August to begin working on a new album. I hope we can have the project finished and available in plenty of time for Christmas. I’m also putting together a new book called “Letters To My Fans” which I hope to have out this fall.

I wanted to include the group picture at the bottom of the page from our recent show in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, because it was quite a gathering of country music legends. We don’t get to perform at very many of these type shows anymore, and it’s always special when we do. You might be watching for our live Family Reunion show in Branson, Missouri, in November. It’s going to be special as well.

Stay cool during this hot summer weather, and we’ll see you back here again the first of August. Thanks for everything.

Hi Folks:

This will be my last chance to communicate with you before our big Fan Club Dinner & Show on June 10th here in Nashville. I’ll try to answer the most-asked questions that we’ve been receiving.

Directions: From downtown Nashville, go east on Interstate 40 toward Knoxville. Take exit 216C onto Donelson Pike north. Stay to the right and continue north on Donelson Pike for six-tenths of a mile (third traffic light) to Elm Hill Pike. Turn right on Elm Hill, and American Legion Post 88 is one-tenth of a mile down the road on your left. There is plenty of free parking.

(Coming west into Nashville on I-40, simply get off at Exit 216, turn right onto Donelson Pike, and follow the directions above.)

The dinner itself starts at 6:30 p.m., but doors will open for a meet ‘n greet at five o’clock. We’ll have souvenir items for sale, including our new fan club laminates. You can take pictures, and after you’ve gone through the line, you will be given your assigned seat for the dinner. There are no reserved seats this year, but if you wish to sit with a particular person, it might be a good idea to arrive with that person. Seats will be assigned in random order, so there is no need to arrive early. Based on my previous experiences in this room, there are no bad seats. Everybody has a good view of the stage, and the dinner is served buffet style.

I mentioned in my online Journal last week that the Legion will be decorated in a Hawaiian or Polynesian theme, and if anybody wants to come dressed for a Luau then come on. Somebody asked if that meant the band and I would be wearing grass skirts. Nice try, but I’m afraid we’re not going quite that far!! I might just wear a big ole flowery shirt, though.

The Po’ Folks Band and I will do a show after we eat and draw for some door prizes. I will have a couple of special guests that I think you will enjoy. It should be a fun, relaxing, informal evening, and I’m thrilled that so many of you are coming.

Travel safe, and we’ll see you there.

Hi Folks:

During the almost twenty-five years that Jean Brown was president of my fan club, she prided herself on being able to make identification buttons available to our club members.

Many of you had them...shiny round buttons about four inches in diameter with my picture on them, identifying the wearer as a member of the Bill Anderson Fan Club. Early ones were gold with black lettering, later ones were pale blue. The buttons were sold to our members for a few dollars above the cost of the fan club membership itself.

When Jean passed away last fall, the fan club went on hiatus for awhile, then re-emerged earlier this year as a free online club open to anyone who cared to send us their e-mail address. One of the first questions we began to receive after the new club was formed was, “Are you still going to have the fan club buttons?”

Well, we don’t have the buttons as before, but our folks have designed something that I think you’ll like just as well, and perhaps even better.

The big thing in ID badges these days seems to be laminates. At concerts, you see folks everywhere sporting laminates around their necks, particularly musicians, technicians, and members of the official concert or venue party.

Our new fan club badges are laminates, like the one you see pictured here. They are full color, two-sided ID tags, measuring almost five inches in height and a little over three inches in width. They come with a lanyard-type clip-on cord and tell everyone who sees them that the person wearing it is an “Official Bill Anderson Fan Club Member.”

We are making these laminates available for the first time on our Canadian tour which runs from May 1st through May 12th. However, if you’d like to have one and don’t want to wait until we appear in person in your area, you can order yours directly from our website. Just click on the Merch icon at the top of this page and you’ll be taken directly to an order form. The laminates are only $6.00 each and that includes shipping. Those of you who receive these newsletters via print can order from our office at P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076.

[More:]

These won’t get you backstage at one of our shows, but next time you come to the Opry or to one of our concerts, we’ll know just by looking that you are one of our special friends and fans. Later on, we hope to be able to use the laminates for discounts on recordings, pictures, and other merchandise.

I hope you’ll want to add one or more of our laminates to your collection. At just six dollars, they make colorful, inexpensive gifts for any country music fan on your list.

Thanks, and I hope you’ll keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel several thousand miles over the next couple of weeks. I’ll look forward to visiting with you again when we return.

Still,

Hi Folks:

Your response to our upcoming fan club dinner in June has been spectacular…so much so that if you’re thinking about joining us, it might be a good idea to go ahead and order your tickets now. Because we have to give a head-count to the food folks, we'll have to cut off our ticket sales on May 18th. Thanks so much to all of you who have already ordered and all who are planning to come.

I had a nice vacation the last week of March, then came home and had to face some minor surgery on April 2nd. I had a condition called “trigger finger,” which has nothing at all to do with shooting guns. It has to do with a tendon in my hand that came loose from a little “pulley-type” device and caused the middle finger on my left hand to often “lock” into a closed position. Since I’m left-handed and use that hand to chord my guitar, type on my computer, etc., I thought it might be a good idea to have it fixed. So far, so good. I’m crossing my fingers (on my OTHER hand) that I won’t have any complications.

I’ve been writing lots of new songs lately, and can only hope that you’ll be hearing some of them soon. Some of my co-writers have included Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, with upcoming sessions set to include both of them again, plus the quarterback for our Tennessee Titans football team, Kerry Collins.

Just because I write a song, though, does not assure that it will be recorded. If it’s recorded, that does not assure it will be released. If it is released, that doesn’t assure that it will be promoted to radio as a single. If it’s a single, that doesn’t assure that it will be a hit. It’s not the easiest way in the world to make a living, but I still enjoy the process and I guess I always will.

Hope to see lots of you at our shows in Burgettstown, PA. on the 17th of this month and in Nashville, Indiana, on the 18th. Thanks for continuing to support me and my career. We’ll visit again soon.

Our fan club dinner and show will be held Wednesday night June 10th at American Legion Post 88, 2864 Elm Hill Pike in Donelson, Tennessee. This is the same place we last held the party in 2007.

The evening’s activities will include an early-bird autograph and picture-taking session at 5 p.m. followed by a hot buffet dinner (roast beef, chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, mixed vegetables, salad bar, hot rolls, drink, and dessert) at 6:30.

After we eat, there will be a raffle and door prizes given away. The party will wrap up with a show featuring the Po’ Folks band, myself, and probably a surprise special guest or two. I’m not promising anything, but in the past our guests have included Kitty Wells, Johnny Wright, Jim Ed Brown, Jan Howard, Craig Morgan, Josh Turner, and a 14-year old Taylor Swift.

The cost for the entire evening is only $30 per person, but space is limited and tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

There are three ways to order. One, beginning Wednesday March 4th, you can go online at www.billanderson.com, click on the Merch section at the top of our Home page, and sign up there. You can pay by credit card, just as you would do if you were ordering any of our product. You will be sent an e-mail confirmation which you will bring to the dinner with you and exchange for your tickets. Two, you can send a check made out to Bill Anderson Enterprises, P.O. Box 888, Hermitage, TN. 37076, and receive your confirmation letter by return mail. The third way to order would be to also use your credit card and call my assistant, Judy Price, @615-773-8920.

We didn’t have a fan club dinner last year due to the illness of our president, Jean Brown, but so many of you have asked that it be revived that we’re going to give it a try.

Y’all come!

P.S. - Hope to see lots of you at the Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Mississippi, on March 20th. We'll be there with our friends Janie Frickie and T. G. Shepherd for one big show at 8 p.m.

Thanks for signing up to receive our Fan Club newsletters, and welcome to our first full edition.

The big news right now is our Fan Club Dinner & Show which we are planning for Wednesday night June 10th here in Nashville. We'll have all the details in our next newsletter, including information as to how you can order tickets and be a part of our big evening. For now, I hope you'll circle the date on your calendar and plan to be with us.

You'll notice we've opened our Fan Club photo gallery, and we appreciate all the pictures you have sent to us so far. Each picture seems to have a special memory attached to it for me. I'm so glad you've chosen to share them. Remember to send your pictures to photos@billanderson.com, though, and not to me personally.

One other reminder: If your e-mail address changes, be sure to submit your new one, using the form you used to sign up for the club. We don't want you missing any of our mailings.

I hope we'll see lots of you on Valentine's Day in Houston, Texas, or at one of our several Opry appearances during February.

Thanks for everything.

Hi….

And welcome to our new online Fan Club. Thanks for stopping by to check us out.

If you would like to become a member of our club, you’ve already done everything you have to do. We’ve got your name and your e-mail address, and beginning shortly we will start sending you monthly updates on everything going on in and around Whisperville.

This page is a prototype of what our newsletters will look like (at least until we come up with some new and improved ideas) and we hope you like it.

If you feel as though you don’t want to receive these newsletters in the future, just click on “Unsubscribe” and your name will be removed from our list, no questions asked.

Hopefully, you’ll want to hang around. We’ll try our best to make you glad you did.