I just want to send a big, BIG thank you out to Phil Valdez for being so kind and inviting me down to sing with him and the band he plays with regularly, down at a place on Broadway in downtown Nashville called, The Wheel. I had just met him the night before at The Nashville Palace… and let me say, of my three years in Nashville (well, it will be three years, November 18th), Phil Valdez and Mike Martinez are two guys I wish I had found here from day one! Those guys are just some of the best talent here, so please… if you are ever in town, look them up and find where they are playing and GO HEAR THEM!
Again Phil, thanks for inviting me out to sing at The Wheel. It was my first time singing down on Broadway and I really enjoyed being there with all of you guys! You all sure know how to entertain a crowd. Also, a big thanks to Moe for taking some pictures of me that night to capture the whole experience! You’re wonderful, my friend! : )

 
 

May God Continue To Bless The Path Ahead…
Belinda

One of my great friends, Moe (short for Monica), and I went out to the Palace Wednesday night to spend a little time together before she heads back to California on Monday for good. While we were there, the two awesome guys on stage (Mike Martinez and Phil Valdez) talked to the crowd here and there, asking where people were from… what brought them to Nashville, etc… and of course when I answered, I said – from Kentucky – to sing… so, they generously invited me to come up and do a few songs with them. Moe kindly thought to grab my camera and take some pictures, as well as some video of us three on stage together. It was just a ’still photo camera’ that has a video mode so the audio isn’t the greatest in the world, but if you get a chance, check out my video page because it will let you see the fun we had if nothing else! : ) And yes, I know I am chewing my gum in the videos… I didn’t think about that until I had gotten up on stage and well, you’ll see the results in the video. Lesson learned the hard way! ; ) But as I said, you’ll see the fun we had if you get a chance to check them out. Those guys were great… Phil is one of THE BEST guitar players I have heard since moving to Nashville (he played lead guitar for Tracy Byrd for 5 years) and has played with others such as Tracy Lawrence, Mark Chestnut and Luke Bryan. Just a very, very talented guy with an excellent voice!! Mike is so entertaining and funny, and has such great, GREAT vocals as well… I would feel honored to get to sing with either of them again down the road! Check them out if you get a chance… two really great guys!!
To my friend Moe… I know because of work on your part and work and music commitments, etc… on my part, we haven’t been able to hang out as much as I would have liked since you have been here in Nashville but I just want you to know that I treasure your friendship… and will always consider you to be one of my closest of friends for the rest of my life. I hope you turn California on to REAL country music when you go back! In the words of two people we both love dearly… “Keepin’ It Country” (Joey+Rory)… show the guys and girls back home what real country music is!! Don’t forget about Nashville… I hope you will come back often to visit! You will always have a second home here as far as I’m concerned! Love you dearly friend!! Thanks for the great memories… I hope there are more to come over the years!

    

May God Continue To Bless The Path Ahead…
Belinda

Nashville just keeps getting bigger and better! If you loved Puckett’s Grocery and Restaurant before, now you have 3 reasons to love it. They just opened a third location in downtown Nashville! Sometimes it’s hard to get out to Franklin or Leiper’s Fork for the great music and wonderful food so the good people at Puckett’s brought it all closer to us here in Nashville! Tonight, November 5th, 2010 they held the very first songwriter’s night there and kudos to Puckett’s for starting it off just right. My friend Moe and I got the chance to go and enjoy some great music during their Grand Opening weekend.

Songwriter, Leslie Satcher who is well known for her tremendous vocals and excellent songwriting skills (co-wrote George Strait’s ‘Troubadour’ with songwriter Monty Holmes) was there entertaining everyone as well as Megan Mullins who is very multi-talented and sure to be a success here in Nashville before too long. And, last but certainly not least… someone whose music and vocals I have loved and admired for many years… Wade Hayes. He sang some newer songs as well as a couple of favorites from a few years past. That is one guy whose voice I sure miss hearing on country radio on a regular basis. He was so kind to Moe and I… stopping to take a picture and speak with us before we left. He’s one of those people that you’d just love to sit on a porch and share some time with, writing a song or talking about music in depth with. Just a great, down to earth guy… I didn’t get a chance to tell him but I love the song ‘Place To Turn Around’ from his newest CD by the same name. You all should check it out sometime!

Go experience the beautiful setting, great food and excellent music at the new Puckett’s Grocery in downtown Nashville if you get a chance… you’ll love it!

    

May God Continue To Bless The Path Ahead…
Belinda

Every time I turn around I find another reason I love this town… There’s nothing like being surrounded by such great talent here but it’s so amazing to see so many people show up to put their talent to such good use for a great cause… helping others. Last night I had the extreme privilege of singing at the Red Rooster downtown near Music Row with Keith Murray and so many other artist to help raise money for those who lost so much during the big flood in Eastern Kentucky several months ago. Many of which are still trying to piece their lives back together.

Stephen Salyers’ Charities Foundation presented the fundraiser and he asked many Kentucky singers/songwriters to come out and supply the entertainment. During the evening, many exciting donated items were raffled off, one of which was an autographed guitar signed by Wynonna Judd and several other well known country artist.

I am so thankful every single day to be surrounded by such good people here in Nashville and so blessed to be meeting so many wonderful individuals along my journey. Thank you Lord for the gifts You bring into my life… I appreciate these people so very much!

  

May God Continue To Bless The Path Ahead…
Belinda

There are always so many great country music artist singing around Nashville somewhere… last night I had the pleasure of hearing and meeting David Ball for the first time. Many of you probably know him best for his song ‘Riding With Private Malone’. Mr. Ball is such a great entertainer… he was telling jokes and cutting up with the crowd. If you are ever in Nashville and get the chance to see a more well known artist at a smaller venue, I would highly recommend it. There is a whole other level of enjoyment that goes on at a show when you get to watch someone perform in a smaller atmosphere. It’s as if the artist is hanging out with you in your living room… they have a chance to speak with the audience in a more intimate way than they do when they are performing in front of thousands of people and it’s a great way to get too know and meet artists whose music you’ve enjoyed for so many years. Like I said, if you ever get the chance, go to a smaller show while you are here in our great city! You won’t regret it and you’ll definitely take away some really great memories from the experience…

May God Continue To Bless The Path Ahead…
Belinda

Wednesday evening (Oct. 6th), I got the chance to listen to some great country music with a good friend of mine, Moe, here in Nashville at an event called ‘Guitar-B-Que’! We missed the first couple of acts, Thompson Square and David Nail (’Redlight’) but arrived just in time to hear the last part of Jake Owens’ (’Startin’ With Me,’ ‘Don’t Think I Can’t Love You’) set! After Jake came Murfreesboro TN’s own Chris Young (’Gettin’ You Home,’ ‘The Man I Want To Be,’ ‘Voices’), then Uncle Kracker (’Good To Be Me,’ ‘Drift Away,’ ‘Smile’) and last but not least, the Randy Rogers Band. We arrived just in time to find an excellent spot right next to the stage (how blessed are we?!!!). I was tickled that the lead guitar player’s for both Uncle Kracker and the Randy Rogers Band gave me a guitar pick for a souvenir! I really enjoyed Chris’s performance… he is one of those artist that can deliver in person exactly what you hear on the radio! Moe and I just had a really nice time hanging out, catching up and listening to the great music that night! I am so thankful for the great friends that God has blessed me with since moving to Nashville. God is good!! Thanks for going with me Moe! Hope we can do it again here soon! : )

    

I just wanted to say that I am SO glad the Grand Ole Opry House is open again. It was so nice of them to arrange the LIVE UStream feed for all of us to be able to watch the reopening (at www.opry.com) with the folks there at the Grand Ole Opry House tonight! Very much appreciated!! All of these months of driving by it day after day with the sign flashing outside advertising all of these great country artist but no one singing inside made me sad for her… but now she’s back! It’s a VERY good day for country music!!! : )

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me…”

Lord , please continue to be with so many that lost loved ones on that tragic day… put Your loving arms around them and help them to know You are there for them always.

May You continue to bless our beautiful country Lord…
Belinda

What an amazing night… I am so thankful to have gotten the chance to attend Brooks and Dunn’s last concert of their 20 year career. Thank you SO much to WSIX – The Big 98 here in Nashville for the Brooks and Dunn – Last Rodeo VIP prize package. I STILL can’t believe I won… As I said in my last post… God is good!!!

My roommate and I arrived downtown as requested (by 5) to pick up the prize package, which included VIP seating, B&D merchandise and a backstage ‘Meet and Greet’ with the guys at some point during the night. They weren’t quite ready for us (with the prize package) when we got there so we walked around a bit and went and grabbed a small bite to eat before the show. When we got back, the wonderful Ashley (thank you again SO much!) gave us our tickets and information and in we went. When we were taken to our seats, we found that we were at the foot of the stage only 2 rows back. Excellent seats as Brooks and Dunn sat/stood at the end of the stage where we were most of the time!! The show was just beyond words really. The guys joked about why it was coming to an end (basically that Ronnie was just over the fact that he never got to wear a cowboy hat himself – too, too funny!!) At one point in the show, everyone started screaming at the top of their lungs as out walked Reba McEntire! She sang her part in ‘Cowgirls Don’t Cry.’ Such a great moment! Towards the end, the guys started to get really emotional and near the last, four marines came out on stage and the crowd went wild with clapping and cheering as red, white and blue streamers came flying out over the whole audience on the floor. It was awesome. Brooks and Dunn ended the show and the crowd started chanting for more, so, they came back out and ended their career together as a duo with the very song that got it all started, ‘Brand New Man’ and at the very end of the song, tiny confetti scattered across the building and Kix Brooks took off his hat and threw it into the crowd! Parts of the band that was still visible were hugging each other as they left the stage… I was just so thankful to be there and be able to share in the last ride ever with those guys!

After the show was over, those of us that had ‘Meet and Greet’ passes were taken to a room to meet Brooks and Dunn. It took about 45 minutes before they were able to make it back to us because of the emotional goodbyes with the band and they had to meet with some radio/press people first as well. When they arrived in the room everyone gave them a big round of applause. They apologized for our wait and said this was the first time they had ever had a ‘Meet and Greet’ AFTER a show. : ) We all got our pictures taken with them and off we went… Some of my roommate’s friends had been given a couple of after the show ‘after party passes’ and they decided to go on home and were kind enough to give them to us. We went back to the huge room where the gathering was at. Along the way, I had the chance to meet one of the background singers for Ronnie and Kix! Ms. Julie Downs (thanks for shaking my hand and talking to me Julie)! She was fabulous! I dream of being in her shoes one day! : ) We went on into the party and walked around for a little bit and came across the wonderful Ms. Kelly Clarkson (who was kind enough to take a picture with both Kristi and I – thank you Kelly) and we got a chance to meet Reba in person as well as her husband Narvel and some of the exceptional marines that were on stage during the show (we even got our picture with one of them)! I also had the opportunity to have another picture taken with Kix again. There was a band playing at the party that was made up of doctors and nurses that Kix and Ronnie had asked to perform there that night for them… and Mr. Lee Roy Parnell showed up to help out as well!

September 2nd is just a night I will not soon forget. I am so thankful to the Good Lord for opportunities like that and am very thankful to WSIX for making it all possible as well! I will treasure that evening for the rest of my life! Just as everyone else was saying that night… Brooks and Dunn – Thanks for the amazing ride guys!!

        

May God Continue To Bless The Path Ahead…
Belinda

God Is Good!!

Never forget that He provides a way when we see none possible… And, if we have faith, He has so much bigger dreams for us than we have for ourselves, if we will just believe in Him and follow wherever He leads us…

Wherever He leads, I’ll go…

Lord, thank you for the amazing opportunities that you are placing in my path… I feel so blessed! A ‘thank you’ seems so small but I am so, so grateful! Thank you Lord!

May You Continue To Bless My Path Ahead…
Belinda