Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 5 August 2026

NASHVILLE TRIP REPORT

My long-awaited journey to Nashville, Tennessee, to research the life of Hargus “Pig” Robbins has come and gone. Attending Bill Anderson’s 65^th anniversary celebration at the Saturday night Grand Ole Opry on July 18 was a special treat. Perry Steilow and I traveled 2,333 miles in his snazzy blue Chevy Silverado during our weeklong trip. We stayed at the Quality Inn Nashville – Opryland Area, next door to the Legends of Country Music Museum and the Nashville Palace. It’s newly renovated and looks brand new. It was closed last summer. Being able to walk across the parking lot to hear live country music at the Palace, the Music City Bar & Grill, and the Troubadour was a big plus.

My first stop on Wednesday morning was to visit Jenny Webb at the Legends of Country Music Museum. She hosted my Randy Travis book release party a year ago. She showed me the new Randy Travis display outside the front door. Tess Frizzell (granddaughter of Dottie West and niece of Lefty Frizzell) had painted a portrait of Randy, and a window was filled with merchandise. My biography of Randy is for sale inside the store but wasn’t displayed in the window.

Alana Young met Perry and me for a long lunch that first afternoon. She gladly accepted the two boxes of Faron Young LPs and the two boxes of research (magazines, photo albums, etc.) I’d collected while writing Faron’s biography. She later told me she stayed up most of one night reading the liner notes on the albums and the stories about her dad in the magazines. I’m glad all that material has a good home.

The Country Music Hall of Fame is always a required stop during my research trips. Thanks to Kevin Fleming, John Fabke, and Brenda Thomas for their assistance and their hospitality. I briefly toured the museum and noted that my RT biography is available in the museum store, but my Marty and Faron books no longer are. Some of the biographies were older than mine. I wonder why the museum doesn’t carry all in-print biographies of CMHOF members.

After a stop at the Davidson County courthouse to obtain Hargus’s real estate records, Perry and I drove around and found the two houses he’d purchased after living in an apartment building–the first as a bachelor and the second when he and Vicki were newlyweds.

While at the Music City Bar & Grill that evening to hear the Music City Playboys, I was surprised to see and recognize Billy Jam recording artist Alex Miller. Perry snapped a photo so I could include it in this newsletter.

Sawyer June, an 11-year-old girl with Connie Smith pipes, sang “Grand Tour” with the Music City Playboys. She wanted everyone to know she had a WSM interview scheduled the next day. She came across as poised and mature when we spoke with her. This was how Tanya Tucker, LeAnn Rimes, and Shania Twain got started, and Sawyer June may someday be as famous as they are.

Perry and I drove to the Tennessee School for the Blind on Friday morning but lacked access to get on the campus, so we couldn’t see the paths Hargus had walked from building to building. That afternoon, we joined Carolyn Sells and Judi Myrick for lunch. Carolyn was a longtime friend of Vicki and Hargus Robbins, and Judi Myrick is the widow of steel player Weldon Myrick. She still drives the white Ford F150 that Weldon unexpectedly bought for her in 2010, several months before his stroke. Both women subscribe to this newsletter, and I’ve been looking forward to meeting them. We could have visited much longer without running out of conversation.

Carolyn Sells, Diane Diekman, Judy Myrick

Saturday afternoon Perry and I walked to the Troubadour for the Heart of Texas Roadshow. Tracy Pitcox’s dozen acts put on an enjoyable show. It was great to see Darrell and Mona McCall and Tony Booth again. They are all long-time readers of this newsletter.

Darrell McCall and Mona McCall

Tony Booth and Mary Lou Turner singing “Sometimes”

Tracy introduced Dallas Wayne as a surprise guest, and I went backstage to introduce myself after he sang. It feels as if we’ve been friends for years, but we’d never met in person. Dallas regularly plays Faron and Marty songs on his Willie’s Roadhouse show on SiriusXM and mentions their biographies. We did a radio interview last year when Randy Travis’s biography came out. I’ve spotlighted Dallas in my newsletter, and we frequently correspond via email. He tells me he uses my newsletter for show prep.

Then came Saturday night and the big event: Bill Anderson’s 65^th anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Bill is the longest serving Opry member ever. Perry and I, along with Alana Young and friend Judy, were honored to be included in his group of party guests. The road we’ve always driven to get to the backstage artist entrance—past the back of Opryland Hotel—is permanently closed, as the hotel is being built out all the way to Briley Parkway. I called Alana, and she directed me past the front of the hotel and around its south side to get back on the road.

Once inside, we wandered around, and I recognized a few people, including these: Jo and Dallas Wayne, Tess Frizzell (daughter of Shelly West and Allen Frizzell), and songwriter Bobby Tomberlin. I complimented Tess on Randy’s portrait at the Legends museum, and she said she felt honored to be able to paint it.

Perry found a chance to chat with Rhonda Vincent in her dressing room after her performance.

This is a view from backstage during intermission. I stood as close as possible to this spot (in the crowd) during Bill’s segment of the show.

When Lorrie Morgan walked onstage and presented Bill with a ring as a gift from the Opry, he showed it to the crowd and said, “For the radio audience, I will tell you this is a beautiful gold ring with a diamond in the top of it. I’m trying to find a finger it’ll fit on.” Lorrie said, “Well, you can put it on one of mine until you’re done.” I don’t remember her exact words as she added something like, “It won’t be the strangest thing I’ve ever done.” Bill responded, “It won’t be the first either.” (This photo was taken by Opry photographer Chris Hollo.)

As I took a backstage photo of Dallas Wayne and Bill Anderson, Bill quipped, “Her two favorite men,” and I responded, “Two of my favorite men.” Perry showed up just then, Bill told him our comments, and three of my favorite men posed for this photo.

Crystal Gayle consented to a phone interview to share her memories of working with Pig Robbins. She said her husband/manager (Bill Gatzimos) will call me. I gave him my business card, and he took this photo.

While the Opry was going on, Perry and I wandered past the dressing rooms to Studio A, a huge room set up for Bill’s party. Studio A is the Grand Ole Opry’s in-house television studio and was home to HEE HAW in the 1970s and 1980s.

At the end of the evening, the backstage crowd gathered in Studio A for Bill’s party. He told stories and answered people’s questions. Then he cut the cake and moved to a stool where a reception line formed. Everyone ate cake and visited. Perry took this photo of Alana Young and me.

Sunday morning, I enjoyed my fifth and last 3½-mile run, a loop up Music Valley Drive and down Pennington Bend Road along the Cumberland River. That’s how I started each day, while Perry usually started his with breakfast at Waffle House. (There are no Waffle Houses in South Dakota.) We then drove 143 miles to Spring City, Hargus’s hometown.

I had called Tate Fugate and asked if he’d give us a tour of the town; I told him we’d be there at noon. When GPS reported we’d arrive at 1 p.m., I texted Tate to ask if he was on Eastern time. He said yes, and I apologized for being an hour late. He met us at the edge of town, at the bottom of a mountain. He took us around the neighborhood where his father had grown up two doors from the Robbins family. We stopped by the Spring City Museum & Depot to see the Tennessee Music Pathways marker that had been dedicated to Hargus “Pig” Robbins in 2021, about six months before his death.

Tate and Perry and I stood in the misty rain and talked until it was time to head to Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where I’d promised to meet Forrest Robbins, Hargus’s little brother. Forrest had invited Steve and Carol Mullinax from Crossville to meet with me. The six of us sat in the fellowship hall and carried on an enjoyable conversation for two hours.

Perry and I headed back to Nashville because we had tickets to see the Malpass Brothers at the Nashville Palace. We met up with Alana Young and Lisa Sutton (daughter of Glenn Sutton and Lynn Anderson), and they introduced us to Porter Wagoner’s daughter, Debra Jean.

Diane, Debra Jean, Alana, and Lisa

I was happy to run into Michelle Capps (Mrs. Jimmy Capps). We’d planned to take a photo together at the Opry and didn’t get it done. Perry took this one.

After the Malpass Brothers completed their show, we stood in the autograph line to say hello to them. Chris and Taylor are Alana’s friends. Chris coined the term “Opry Daycare” to refer to Alana and her second-generation counterparts.

Perry and I wrapped up our Nashville visit on Monday morning and completed my research by driving to the Williamson County courthouse in Franklin to obtain the land records for Pig’s final home, where he lived out his life in Brentwood. We found the empty lot where the house had been torn down last year. After one last Waffle House meal, we headed home to South Dakota. Perry and I reached Sioux Falls at 3:30 Tuesday morning after a pleasant and uneventful drive—except for miles and miles of road construction. Now I need to start contacting people for interviews.

NEWS

On July 18, Bill Anderson commemorated his historic anniversary of having been a Grand Ole Opry member for 65 years. He was inducted on July 15, 1961, and remains the longest-serving member in history, reports Country Now. At the end of his segment, he watched intently as video tributes played across the large screen at the back of the stage– messages from friends and fellow Opry members such as Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Steve Wariner and more. Lorrie Morgan walked onstage to present him with a gift from the Opry: A European cut diamond and blue sapphire ring. Blue sapphire is the anniversary stone for 65 years. After the Opry performances concluded, Bill’s guests joined him backstage in Studio A, where a stunning “65” cake awaited.

Bill Anderson at his Opry party. Photo by Opry photographer Chris Hollo.

Bill Anderson reports in his fan club newsletter that BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) and Sony Music Publishing teamed up to present awards to songwriters who had written songs performed publicly over a million times each. Bill writes, “I was lucky in that they gave me 12 of the citations…for songs ranging everywhere from City Lights in 1958 to Give It Away (over 3 million performances) in 2006. The awards are now framed and hanging on my office walls. BMI and Sony are THE best!”

Coy “Denver” Parton, older brother of Dolly Parton, died July 23 at age 82, reports Country Now. Born in 1943 in Sevier County, Tennessee, he was one of 12 children of Avie Lee Owens Parton and Robert Lee Parton. He spent much of his career as a crane operator based in Sevierville, building bridges throughout Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents; infant brother, Larry Parton; older brother, David Parton (2024); and younger brothers, Randy (2021) and Floyd Parton (2018). His living siblings are brother Bobby and sisters Willadeene Buzzeo, Dolly Parton, Stella Parton, Cassie Griffith, Freida Parton, and Rachel George. His cause of death was not disclosed.

Kenny Chesney: Living in Fast Forward, the new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, is now open, reports Country Now. Kenny Chesney, newly inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, helped curate the artifacts and stories that brought his journey to life. During the opening ceremony, he said, “The thing I saw when I first walked in, and I see a lot of my band and crew here tonight, is the amount of fun we’ve had. I went on the road, I can’t even believe I’m saying this. I went on the road the first time in November of 1993. It’s crazy to think about. And we are having just as much fun today as we did then. Just ask my band.” The exhibit shows his journey from his East Tennessee childhood and college years to his early days in Nashville. It highlights his record-breaking stadium tours and the experiences he’s created for his No Shoes Nation legion of fans. The exhibit will remain on display through June 2027.

Saving Country Music reports on an upcoming album by Mo Pitney, his first in six years, saying, “But in typical Curb Records fashion, even though they’ve announced the new album and graced us with a new single, we’ll have to wait all the way until March 26th of 2027 until we get to hear the full thing.” The first single, “Happy Hour,” has been released, as have “Fiddle Around” and “Wake Up and Smell the Country.”

The Grand Ole Opry is encouraging anyone who values the future of AM radio and WSM to speak up by texting “AM” to 39179. Country Now reports that doing so will send a message to Congress in support of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. This bipartisan legislation would require all new passenger vehicles sold in the U.S. to include AM radio as standard equipment. According to the National Association of Broadcasters, AM radio reaches tens of millions of listeners each week. It’s a vital resource for rural and agricultural communities, and it plays a critical role in public safety by delivering important information during severe weather and other emergencies that cause power outages and cell service outages. Some automakers have already removed AM radio from electric vehicles; others may eliminate it from new gas-powered vehicles.

Country Now reports that Willie Nelson, 93, recently took to social media to share an open letter that expresses his concerns about data centers, of which Texas is expected to see at least 248 new projects. “I grew up in Abbott,” he wrote, “and I still have a home there with farmed land where I can still see stars at night. And now our community, like many others, needs to fight against data centers invading our land. The last thing we need is a loud, water thieving, light polluting, data center anywhere near our town (or any others for that matter).” He emphasized the importance of farmers and the role they play in sustaining communities across the country, saying that data centers destroy the environment around them. “Whoever controls food and water controls the masses,” he wrote. “Let’s not allow our own demise or give up control over necessary resources in the U.S. and especially in Abbott.” Tanya Tucker also stands against the construction of data centers and related infrastructure projects in Texas. In an Instagram message, she said she’s concerned about the 765 kilovolts of transmission lines coming through all the ranches in Texas. She wrote, “It’s going to hurt our health, our wildlife, our water table, our water resources. It’s going to scar our land forever. So I’m asking you to join me in asking Governor Abbott to just pause, just take another minute to find out what this is really going to do to our land. And if you don’t know about it, you need to learn about it because it’s starting in Texas, but it’s going to go everywhere. So let it stop in Texas too.”

Saving County Music reports that Tanya Tucker testified a week later in front of the Texas Senate Committee on Business and Commerce. She was born in Seminole, Texas, and now owns a ranch in Burnett County, north of Austin. She said, “I want to be the voice for all the people who can’t be here today whose lives will be severely affected by these transmission lines. Some weren’t even notified, some can’t afford to hire attorneys to represent them, and I want to speak for those people too … Before you disrupt so many lives, I just ask that you take a longer look at the other options. Because I love Texas so much and I want Texas to have a stronger power grid.” She concluded with an a capella version of her 1978 hit “Texas (When I Die).”

Larry the Cable Guy, 63, was hospitalized with appendicitis in Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 23. Taste of Country reports he underwent surgery and was released from the hospital two days later to recover at home. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “I’m home and recovering. Pretty sore but vitals good, my butt looks fantastic and now just taking stool softeners which is giving me an urge to go to my mom’s assisted living facility and play bingo with the gals. I appreciate all the nice notes.”

Ashley McBryde first met Sawyer June in February during a chance encounter backstage at the Opry, reports Country Now. The young girl (now 11 years old) and her family were visiting town and attended a show that included a group tour backstage. When Ashley learned that her young fan was also a singer, she grabbed her guitar and invited Sawyer to sing with her. She was amazed by Sawyer’s talent and passion and promised to stay in touch. When Sawyer recently visited the WSM studio, Ashley called in and said, “As a proud member myself, and on behalf of the folks at the Grand Ole Opry, we’d love to invite you to stand in the circle and make your Opry debut. What do you say?” The overwhelmed Sawyer took a moment to process the invitation before enthusiastically accepting. The Opry has yet to name a date for Sawyer June’s debut.

According to MusicRow, The Wilkinsons will be inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame as the 2026 Artist inductee. Comprised of Amanda, Steve and Tyler Wilkinson, the trio emerged in the late 1990s and became one of Canada’s most celebrated country acts. They earned international acclaim through their family harmonies, heartfelt songwriting, and catalogue of hits. The trio will be formally inducted during a ceremony alongside 2026 Stan Klees Builder Hall of Fame inductee Ron Kitchener, during Country Music Week 2026 Sept. 16–19 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago reached out to Randy Travis after learning one of its cancer patients expressed a wish to meet him. Bunnia Greenwood, a NICU nurse for more than 30 years, was a long-time devoted fan who had always dreamed of meeting Randy in person. She had experienced multiple cancer diagnoses and years of treatment. The hospital requested a video call, but Randy and Mary insisted on flying to Chicago to surprise her. WLS in Chicago reports that they also spent time with hospital employees while visiting the specialized facility in Zion.

The Erv Woolsey Company has closed its doors, reports MusicRow. Erv Woolsey founded the company in 1983 and guided the career of George Strait for more than four decades. In one of the longest and most successful artist-manager relationships in entertainment history, they celebrated 60 No. 1 hits, sold-out stadiums, and industry awards. The company also guided the careers of Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, Clay Walker, and Ronnie Milsap. Erv Woolsey died in 2024. His son and current CEO, Clinton Woolsey, is lead singer of Stone Senate. Longtime artist advocate Dottie Oelhafen founded The Artist Desk Co. and continues to work with Strait and Woolsey independently.

LETTERS

Alana Young writes from Nashville, “Words cannot express how grateful I am to you for bestowing your Faron Young collection to me. I am deeply moved by your generosity. From the album liner notes to the country music magazines, I am learning even more about my dad. What a treasure trove! I will cherish these and make sure they are shared with my nephews’ families. Your kindness has touched my heart. Thank you again!”

Don Ewert says, “I’d like to wish Bobby Fischer a Happy 91st Birthday on Aug 5. I think he should write a book.”

Bobby Fischer writes from Nashville, “A great talent left us. I wrote several songs with Charlie Rich Jr. and A J Masters. He sang and played piano exactly like his dad but also had his own great gift. Glad to see Phil Vassar is nominated for an award. Very deserved. I wrote a lot with him, and he has been in several movies my daughter Lori Fischer wrote and they act in together. One on Amazon is Chasing Taste.”

Byron Fay writes from Canton, Ohio, “As always, I enjoy your newsletter. When I was in Nashville last weekend to attend Bill Anderson’s 65th Opry anniversary show and reception, I went to the Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center to see Steve Wariner’s “The Flip Side” exhibit. It was well worth the trip and it was outstanding. There were around 50 paintings on display, with descriptions written by Steve. The vast majority were for sale. Sadly, the exhibit only lasts another week. Steve is such a talented singer/songwriter and painter, and very glad to have taken the time to visit.”

Eric Calhoun in Los Angeles says, “Thanks for telling us of the deaths of Charlie Rich, Jr. and Jimmy Nichols. Country legends, for sure. Wondering: does Charlie Jr. have any children, and Jimmy Nichols?”

Diane: The obituary for Charlie Rich Jr. says he is survived by his wife, Teri, and children Erica, Michael, and Leslie. Jimmy Nichols is survived by his wife, Tonya. I found no mention of children in any article about him.

Ed Bentley writes from the United Kingdom, “Thanks so much for adding me to your list. Great to be able to keep up with the happenings in Country Music. Appreciate all you do… (and write).”

COUNTRY MUSIC DISC JOCKEY HALL OF FAME – 2004

Jaybird Drennan, born Jerry William Drennan in Texas in 1928, grew up as the son of a sharecropper on peanut farms in Texas and New Mexico. He worked at radio stations in those states before moving to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eventually to WSLR in Akron, Ohio, in 1965. During his 27 years as morning drive air personality at WSLR, he pioneered country radio in Ohio and paved the way for successful country stations in Akron and Cleveland. Jay Drennan died in 2006 from a blood clot that formed after surgery for a broken ankle. He was 78 years old.

Bob Duchesne began his 31-year radio career in 1972 as a part-time air talent in Waterville, Maine, while attending college. He started working full-time the day after graduation. He followed his wife’s government career to Washington, where he worked at WMZQ from 1980 to 1985, becoming Music Director. In 1986, he joined WQCB-FM in Bangor, Maine, where he remained until his retirement from radio in September 2003. His morning show reached number one within two years and remained in that spot for 18 of the next 22 rating periods. Upon his departure from radio, Bob won a seat in the Maine House of Representatives and served six terms. He started a bird guiding company and wrote a weekly birding column. Today he serves on the Maine Board of Environmental Protection and is vice president of Maine Audubon’s Penobscot Valley Chapter. He developed the Maine Birding Trail, with information at mainebirdingtrail.com. He can be reached at du******@******ne.com.

Jerry King got his first radio job at KBER in in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, in March 1965, following his graduation from Elkins Institute, a radio school in Dallas. He joined KKYX in San Antonio in 1975, where he worked every shift, eventually becoming morning show host and music director, as well as a celebrated San Antonio radio personality and disc jockey. Known as “The Cousin” Jerry King, he retired in 2018 after 43 years with the station. The highlight of his career came when a member of the Ace in the Hole Gang from San Marcos stopped by and asked him to play his new song, “Unwound.” Jerry recalled, “I was fortunate enough to be the first one to play George Strait on the radio. That was his first major label record. It was May 4, 1981.” George told him, “Hold it! I want to run out to the car real quick so I can hear it on the radio!”

Dr. Bruce Nelson, born in 1943, began his radio career in the early 1960s in Woodbridge, Virginia, at WXRA, the first FM country station in the United States, where he worked alongside disc jockey “Cousin Ray” and Scotty Stoneman of the famed Stoneman Family. Known as Dr. Bruce, he was an air personality and programmer of legendary and influential country stations including WPLO, Atlanta; WUBE, Cincinnati; WMIL, Milwaukee; KENR, Houston; KNUZ; Houston. He holds more than fifty record company awards for playing records that helped break the careers of Mickey Gilley, Freddie Fender, Johnny Lee, and Gene Watson. He was the opening act at Gilley’s for Mickey Gilley and Johnny Lee, and he originated the first live broadcast over KENR from Gilley’s (The Saturday Night Special) which later evolved into the syndicated “Live at Gilley’s.” Widely respected for his programming expertise, live broadcast innovations, and support of country music artists, Dr. Bruce Nelson Stratton died in 2018 in Corpus Christi, Texas, from throat cancer at age 74.

Uncle Don Rhea spent more than 25 years on the air in Kansas City, mostly on the morning shift at KCKN. Born Jack Donald Rhea in 1931, he grew up the son of a Western Electric employee who moved often before settling in Springfield, Missouri. While in the Air Force, Don became Program Director of the Lackland Air Force base station and took his first full-time radio job upon discharge. In 1962, he was hired to work at KCKN in Kansas City. He took detours to put KBUC on the air in San Antonio and to Grand Junction, Colorado, where he guided KQIL-FM to number one in that market. As a Music and Program Director, he is credited with breaking many hits, including “Almost Persuaded” by David Houston, “Flowers on the Wall” by the Statler Brothers, and “Snowbird” by Anne Murray. In 1986, Don left the air to serve as General Manager of WATZ-AM and WATZ-FM in Alpena, Michigan, where he retired in 1995. Uncle Don spent 25 years in scouting as a leader, trainer and commissioner, receiving the BSA’s Silver Beaver Award. He was a Country Commissioner in Grand Junction, and a District Commissioner in Alpena. He died in 2020, at age 89.