By Cleve Francis Cleve Francis is a famous country singer you may have never heard of. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. Growing up in the Jim Crow South in Jennings, Louisiana, he faced discrimination at every turn. The town’s Carnegie library, the oldest established library in the state, stood as a bulwark […]
https://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/DoMyHeartGood-Cleve-Francis.jpg349231Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-09-30 07:54:292026-09-30 08:05:15Do My Heart Good: My Odyssey Through Country Music, Medicine, and History
BOOK REVIEW – DO MY HEART GOOD Cleve Francis is a famous country singer you may have never heard of. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. Growing up in the Jim Crow South in Jennings, Louisiana, he faced discrimination at every turn. The town’s Carnegie Library, the oldest established library in the state, stood […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-09-30 07:32:472026-09-30 07:32:47Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 30 September 2026
IN THE SPOTLIGHT – BERGEN WHITE When Bergen White answered my telephone call for our Pig Robbins interview, I had no idea I’d be talking to the composer who arranges the music for the National Memorial Day Concert I’ve watched for the past several years. He told me he’s worked with the National Symphony for […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-09-16 07:39:192026-09-16 07:48:45Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 16 September 2026
NEWS Dolly Parton (1946-2026) Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of the death of Dolly Parton? CBS and NBC networks led their evening newscasts on August 25 with the breaking news that Dolly had died at age 80, and both devoted half the broadcast to her. President Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff for seven […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-09-02 07:37:372026-09-04 09:03:30Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 2 September 2026
THE BLUEBIRD EXPERIENCE—A SONGWRITER SHOWCASE Nashville talent came to Sioux Falls this past Saturday night with “The Bluebird Experience—A Songwriter Showcase” at the Military Heritage Alliance. VFW Post 628 sponsored this free show for the entire community; it was disappointing that so few took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the stories and songs of […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-08-19 06:59:372026-08-31 19:14:04Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 19 August 2026
Here’s the speech I recently gave at the Sioux Empire Fair on August 1, 2026. Good afternoon. Welcome to the Sioux Empire Fair on this beautiful summer day. I am Diane Diekman, U.S. Navy captain, retired, and president of the Battleship South Dakota Memorial here in Sioux Falls. Have any of you visited the Battleship […]
https://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/1000019561.jpg16061070Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-08-07 21:28:282026-08-07 21:29:39USS South Dakota: Protector of the Seas
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 65th 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 […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-08-05 07:16:362026-08-05 07:48:44Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 5 August 2026
NEWS The second oldest child of late country star Charlie Rich and songwriter Margaret Ann Rich has died, reports the Tennessean. Charles Allan Rich, Jr., 71, passed away July 14 at his home in Cookeville, Tennessee. Born and raised in Arkansas, he was known to family and friends as Allan, later performing and recording as […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-07-22 06:59:242026-07-22 14:47:55Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 22 July 2026
NEWS Nissan Stadium in Nashville contained a sold-out crowd on June 27 to see Alan Jackson host the final performance of his career. Country Now reports that the farewell concert was witnessed by more than 80,000 fans across Nashville, with livestream viewing events at Belmont University’s Fisher Center, the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater, […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-07-08 06:46:002026-07-08 07:43:03Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 8 July 2026
NEWS This photo didn’t arrive in time to include it in my trip report about the BIO (Biographers International Organization) conference. So here I am, reading my three-minute excerpt of Randy Travis: Storms of Life on the stage of the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. WSM announcer Bill Cody, 67, died June 9 after being placed […]
http://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.png00Diane Diekmanhttp://dianediekman.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Diane-Diekman-Logo.pngDiane Diekman2026-06-24 07:47:152026-06-24 07:52:09Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 24 June 2026
Do My Heart Good: My Odyssey Through Country Music, Medicine, and History
By Cleve Francis Cleve Francis is a famous country singer you may have never heard of. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. Growing up in the Jim Crow South in Jennings, Louisiana, he faced discrimination at every turn. The town’s Carnegie library, the oldest established library in the state, stood as a bulwark […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 30 September 2026
BOOK REVIEW – DO MY HEART GOOD Cleve Francis is a famous country singer you may have never heard of. And it wasn’t for lack of trying. Growing up in the Jim Crow South in Jennings, Louisiana, he faced discrimination at every turn. The town’s Carnegie Library, the oldest established library in the state, stood […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 16 September 2026
IN THE SPOTLIGHT – BERGEN WHITE When Bergen White answered my telephone call for our Pig Robbins interview, I had no idea I’d be talking to the composer who arranges the music for the National Memorial Day Concert I’ve watched for the past several years. He told me he’s worked with the National Symphony for […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 2 September 2026
NEWS Dolly Parton (1946-2026) Is there anyone who hasn’t heard of the death of Dolly Parton? CBS and NBC networks led their evening newscasts on August 25 with the breaking news that Dolly had died at age 80, and both devoted half the broadcast to her. President Trump ordered flags flown at half-staff for seven […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 19 August 2026
THE BLUEBIRD EXPERIENCE—A SONGWRITER SHOWCASE Nashville talent came to Sioux Falls this past Saturday night with “The Bluebird Experience—A Songwriter Showcase” at the Military Heritage Alliance. VFW Post 628 sponsored this free show for the entire community; it was disappointing that so few took advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the stories and songs of […]
USS South Dakota: Protector of the Seas
Here’s the speech I recently gave at the Sioux Empire Fair on August 1, 2026. Good afternoon. Welcome to the Sioux Empire Fair on this beautiful summer day. I am Diane Diekman, U.S. Navy captain, retired, and president of the Battleship South Dakota Memorial here in Sioux Falls. Have any of you visited the Battleship […]
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 65th 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 […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 22 July 2026
NEWS The second oldest child of late country star Charlie Rich and songwriter Margaret Ann Rich has died, reports the Tennessean. Charles Allan Rich, Jr., 71, passed away July 14 at his home in Cookeville, Tennessee. Born and raised in Arkansas, he was known to family and friends as Allan, later performing and recording as […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 8 July 2026
NEWS Nissan Stadium in Nashville contained a sold-out crowd on June 27 to see Alan Jackson host the final performance of his career. Country Now reports that the farewell concert was witnessed by more than 80,000 fans across Nashville, with livestream viewing events at Belmont University’s Fisher Center, the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater, […]
Diane’s Country Music Newsletter — 24 June 2026
NEWS This photo didn’t arrive in time to include it in my trip report about the BIO (Biographers International Organization) conference. So here I am, reading my three-minute excerpt of Randy Travis: Storms of Life on the stage of the CUNY Graduate Center in Manhattan. WSM announcer Bill Cody, 67, died June 9 after being placed […]