A lot has been happening since I’ve been on my website! I’ve got my new book out, “My Father’s Daughter.” I finished it in time for Christmas gifts, December of 2017! My health issues is the reason I finished my book. I was afraid I wouldn’t be well enough to finish my book or all the famous people I write about would be dead! I have “Aphasia.” Which means that the brain doesn’t connect with the speech. It doesn’t mean I’m not intelligent, it means that I can’t talk! But I Can Sing! Isn’t it funny how music plays a big part in my life and this aphasia? This is the third stroke I’ve had! I had two in the 1980’s, but this one keeps hanging on! I’ve had it for 2-1/2 years. I go to my speech therapist, Kenna, twice a week. She made me a card to pull out whenever I’m having trouble speaking.

I sang on the “Next Generation Show” in 2017. I was asked to sing “Muleskinner Blues.” As you know, I do some talking in that song, some ad-lib! I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it. Kenna started helping me with the song. She said there are bullet points you want to make about the song, some topics that you want to hit. I hit everyone of them!!! My brother Danny (who sang a song that daddy wrote called “Go Home,” and me and Hawk sung harmony with him) said, “I’m still learning from you sis.” My Book went way beyond expectation! It’s still selling to this day!  The “Hall Of Fame,” ordered it, the “Circle P Ranch,” in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee ordered it, my website, karenwheelermusic.com, has it, and the Trunk of My Car, has it! Ha! You can order it by going on my website and sending $25 to: Karen Wheeler, P.O. Box 2932, Lebanon, TN  37088.  It’s in the teens outside now, our fruit trees have started to bloom and the Jonquils are starting to bloom! They’re to die soon, as we speak, but I’m not going anywhere! Cancer didn’t get me this won’t either! I’m like the energizer bunny, “I’ll take a licking and keep on ticking!”

The pool is open and we are getting some leaves falling! It’s almost fall, but it’s still hot out there!. I hate this time of the year! We’re getting ready to close the pool, it’s a tough decision! Don’t know whether to keep it open or close it. On to better subjects!

I’ve written a book called, “My Father’s Daughter.” I finally finished it after 30 years, but I got really serious about it a couple of years ago. I’ve had a stroke and I’ve got “Aphasia.” That’s where the brain doesn’t connect with the speech! I’m going to a Speech Therapist, but it’s a slow process! It doesn’t have anything to do with my intelligence, but it takes me a minute to get the words out! I can sing but I can’t talk! Lol! So I figured, “if I can’t talk I might as well finish my book.” I didn’t have some things that I wanted to put in my book, so I started in January 2017, and I finished it 3 days before Christmas. I worked on it day and night, (Glen sacrificed and left me alone to finish it. I guess he got mighty lonely) but I finished it, and just in time too. So I gave my new books to my family as an After-Christmas present! I’m so proud of it! I’m an “Author!” I can add that to; songwriter, singer, and I’ve published 2 Cookbooks! I am so proud of my new book and it’s selling like crazy! It’s at the Nashville Hall Of Fame, Circle P Ranch in Mt. Juliet, TN, and at my Website: Karenwheelermusic.com
“My Father’s Daughter” is a book that’s truthful, and it was hard to write some of it. It tells about my daddy & mama, how we grew up and hardships we endured along the way. It tells about the heartaches I went through trying to make it in the music business and what my daddy went through. You’ll enjoy reading it, I promise!
Well, that’s it for now, until we meet again!

No snow, but it’s cold. The temperature is about 34 degrees out, but it’s a beautiful day! It hasn’t snowed since we were coming home from Mexico, on January 13, 2018. We were actually coming home from Mercedes, Texas. We drove over to Progresso, Mexico. We spent the night in Little Rock, Arkansas, and what should’ve taken us 5-1/2 hours to get home, it took us 11 hours and 20 minutes. We started from Little Rock on Saturday and we saw the pile ups in Jackson, Tennessee! The traffic was piled up, accident after accident, we thought we would never get home! The snow plows were behind us! So much for our week in Mercedes, Progresso, and San Antonio! We had a good time though, and the weather was about 75 or 80 degrees. It’s good to get away, after spending most of the year finishing up my book, “My Father’s Daughter.” It came out a week before Christmas, made excellent Christmas gifts for the kids. It has sold like wild fire! I have a book signing at the Circle P Ranch in the General Store on February 17, 2018. I hope to see some of y’all there! I’m hoping that the Hall Of Fame will pick it up, & Amazon. I can’t hardly keep up with the orders on my website. And I have to mention that Devon O’Day interviewed me on WSM! Yay! She had A little lady as her co-host that day that I’ve known ever since she was 6 years old, as a matter of fact, I wrote a chapter in my book on her daddy, Kelly Lang! (She is married to T. G. Sheppard now.) Her daddy is Velton Lang and he was the road manager for Conway Twitty. We had so much to talk about and Devon acknowledged my “Aphasia” from a stroke. Devon and Kelly did most of the talking for me, since I have trouble talking. It has nothing to do with my intelligence, but I have trouble saying the things I want to say. It’s so frustrating! I don’t have trouble singing, it’s only when I talk! I’m like Mel Tillis! Enough about my troubles! I’m alive, I’m well, and making progress in my speech! My speech therapist told me, “I have hope for you yet and she’s proud of me!” Till next time!

I woke up to snow and ice! It happened on Tuesday, January 16, 2018. We got our first snow of the year. After spending a week in Texas, going over to Progresso, Mexico, going to San Antonio and walking the River Walk, we had to come back to this! It was beautiful in Texas, low to mid-70’s!
I was interviewed about my new book before we left, at WSM by Devon O’Day and Kelly Lang was her co-host. That was on the 4th of January. She kept me on the air for two hours, and she talked about my “Aphasia” after having my 3rd stroke. She was so sweet, and Kelly already knew about it. Devon and Kelly would fill in the blank spots, when I couldn’t talk. I’ve known Kelly since she was about 6 years old. I’ve got a chapter in my book on Velton Lang, her daddy, he was Conway’s road manager. I had no idea that the book would be such a success. And little did I know that I needed a rest. That’s why we went to Texas!
I got out Tuesday, when it snowed, even though the roads were bad, to mail my books (My Father’s Daughter) and to go to Walmart. It’s COLD outside! It got down in the single digits last night and tonight isn’t going to be any different. Anyway, I haven’t put away my Christmas stuff yet, the house is a mess, but I’ve got other things on my mind. Like this new book of mine; it’s selling like crazy! I’m checking into putting it on eBook, and Amazon. Can’t do much in this weather, so I’m going to concentrate on going through my clothes and giving them to the Good Will. The snow and ice looks like it’s here to stay, at least for a little while. So don’t you people up North be saying that it never snows in Nashville, and it never freezes, because it does! I’ll be keeping up with my blog from here on out, so stay tuned!

Well, Christmas is over and I HAVE MY BOOKS!!!! My precious husband Glen, went to get them in Clarksville, the Thursday before Christmas! So I had them by Christmas to give each one of my kids for a present! They spent the entire day looking at the colored pictures! Here’s the way our day went; At 11:00 am I fixed Brunch for every one of my children, there was a houseful. I had Stuffed French Toast with Maple Pecan syrup, Hash Brown Casserole & Breakfast Souffle! There was Glen, Karen, Kevin, Stacia, David, Levi, Jonathan, Jennifer, Tyler, Ryan, Ariel, her boyfriend, Christopher, Kiara & Noah. Fifteen people to feed! That’s a whole “passel” of food! I enjoyed it! Then we went in the living room to open gifts. Each one took their turn, to see what the other one got. After my children got their books, “My Father’s Daughter,” they just sat and looked at the pictures! And there’s a bunch of pictures in this book. There’s 337 pages in this book! I’m so proud of it. It tells the story of my daddy and I trying to make it in the Music Business. We reached a certain level, but we didn’t have that number one hit record that said we were a “Star.” I’m going to put the book on my website, but not this week! I have to have time to settle down. After all, I worked hard! At around 6:00 pm I fixed Christmas dinner. Stacia was going to fix dinner for the boys at her house, so she left. (Her home is right next door to ours on 7 acres, we have 7 acres also.) So I had 12 of them to fix dinner for. We had Cornish Hens, Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Corn Casserole, Slaw & Cranberry Salad. For an appetizer we had; Dates Stuffed with Honey Goat Cheese and Toasted Almonds on the top! For dessert I had; Pineapple Blueberry Crunch, Banana Pudding Dessert & Peanut Brittle! We all ate good! By the way, the address for you to send for my book is: Karen Wheeler, P. O. Box 2932, Lebanon, TN 37088.

I know, I know! It’s been a long time since you’ve read a blog from me! But I think you’ll understand when I tell you the reason why. I’ve been writing a book! It’s taken me a long time, but I finally got serious about this in January of this year. It’s called; “My Father’s Daughter.” I am so excited about it! It will be out around Christmas time, I don’t know the exact date yet. It’s hardback and the pictures are in color. You’re gonna love this book because it tells the story of how me and my dad tried to make it in the Music Business, and the trials and tribulations we went through.It tells how we worked with the biggest stars in the Music Business, we were at the right time and the place, we wrote songs, we were on the Grand Ole Opry, and still….there were circumstances or complications that kept us from reaching the “Star” level. It tells from the beginning of my childhood and growing up and what I went through. What people I knew and how I opened shows for 12 years for Conway Twitty. It tells how me and daddy were on the biggest record labels that there was like; Columbia, RCA, United Artist, Starday, and Capital, to name a few! It takes a lot to make it in this business and sometimes it takes the simplest things! I’ll be fixing turkey and dressing for my family in a couple of days and the Christmas tree will be up! And then it’s time for Christmas! Happy Thanksgiving, and Merry Christmas to you all.

It’s a snowy day in Nashville, Tennessee! We got about 6-1/2 to 7 inches of snow today, it’s beautiful and clinging to the trees and the ground! So don’t ever say that Nashville doesn’t have snow, because it’s here!

I’ve been doing a lot of “Songwriting Rounds” in Nashville. I guess that’s where it’s at? I’m proud to be a songwriter, I just wish I could get a cut by a major artist! (Don’t we all!) Sometimes I write one song after another. Then there will be days, weeks and months before I write another one. I’ve been doing these songwriter rounds for about 4 years and haven’t even got a bite! Ha! I’ve written over a 100 songs, and if I do say so myself, “they are good songs!” I’ve been trying to keep them current with what’s happening today! Along with songwriter’s nights, I’ve been singing with the “Next Generation”. That’s the sons and daughters of Country Music Legends! We did the TV Show; “Second Generation Country Family Reunion Show” on RFD TV . We’ve performed at different places, and we had our own show at 3rd & Lindsley last year at Fan Fair. But we do shows all year round. We are waiting to do a cruise of our own! Oh come on! Lol!

I’m still writing on my book, so don’t be surprised if you turn around and it’s done! Haha! If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll finish writing that book!

I lost my daddy 31 years ago, May 26, 1984. He was singing two new songs that he had written; “There’s Heaven To Gain, Hell To Lose” & “Mama Rang The Dinner Bell”. The Nelson Brothers (A.J. & Doyle) came to my house on Thursday and they were rehearsing the two new songs. I had just come in from buying my daughter Stacia, all the trimmings for her birthday, May 25th. This was a rare occasion for the Nelson Brothers to be singing with daddy. They had started out with daddy in the early 50’s, and they were called; “Onie Wheeler & The Ozark Mountain Boys”. All of us kids thought we were cousins, growing up with the Nelsons! We didn’t know until we were grown that we weren’t cousins at all! What a frightening thing that was to find out! So the Nelson Brothers had not sang with daddy in a while. Daddy had surgery in February of that year for an aneurysm. He was fidgety because of not working, so Roy let him work the Opry a little bit. But this was daddy’s own thing. He had worked two shows with Roy and now he was going to do the Gospel hour of the show at the Opry. He sang one song, and then started singing “Mama Rang The Dinner Bell”, and just slumped over on stage with the microphone still in his hand, he hit the monitor with his head. He died in the circle from the old Ryman Auditorium. I was so busy greeting everyone at the funeral that I didn’t have time to think! I was watching the Music City News Awards show on TV, and that’s when I really began to cry! Because I saw what everybody else saw; my daddy slumping over on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry! I had never looked at it like that! That weekend that daddy passed away was Memorial Day Weekend. When Memorial day rolls around each year I’m saddened for all the soldiers that we’ve lost, but I’m also saddened for losing my daddy. I told Roy Acuff at the funeral; “you’re gonna have to find a new way to get out of this world because, daddy just took yours!”

Oh my, I don’t know where the time has gone. It seems like summer was here and gone in a flash! I can’t remember opening our pool! Sorry for not posting more on my blog, but it seems that I’m more busy now than I have ever been! I do “Songwriter’s Rounds” at the Maxwell House Hotel once a month, plus all the other songwriter’s rounds that I do in between! I work a few show dates. But one of the best things in my life right now is the “Next Generation”! That’s the son’s and daughter’s of country music legends! We did the “Second Generation” Family Reunion Show a couple of years ago, and I’m privileged to be a part of that group. We are doing “Country With A Cause” at the Nashville Palace on December 10, 2015. That’s to provide family’s that are underprivileged, with a Christmas this year! There will be myself, Melissa Luman, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Robyn Young and Ron Williams. That’s the “Brat Pack”! Then there’s Leona Williams, Buddy Jewel, Bobby G. Rice, and Billy Yates. Lulu Roman will be hosting the event. I’m sure there’s going to be lots more people added to the roster. I worked the Wilson County Fair for the “Umpteenth Time” (don’t know how many years I’ve worked it, maybe 10 or 11). Had as my special guests, my brother Danny Wheeler! He tore the house up! Mr. Joe Rucker was my guest, and nobody sings “Farewell Party” like Joe! He was fabulous! And then for my very special guests, Russ and Becky Jeffers! Wow! They put on a show like no one has ever! They were absolutely wonderful! Thank you Russ and Becky! I’m going to go down in history for my songwriting, not for being an artist, for my cookbooks, or as a book writer. I’m going to be known as a songwriter if it kills me! And it probably will! Ha! But I’m never too old to walk up on that stage and receive “Writer of the Year” or “Song of the Year”. I don’t have any aspirations of being a star, those days are gone! But I have one goal, and that is to write a hit song. I’m never too old for that!

Hi everybody! I know that I haven’t been diligent in keeping up with my blog. Between traveling for fun and working here in Nashville, it’s been so busy! We went to Texas for a while this winter so I took a month off from my “Songwriter’s Round” at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel. But remember I do the songwriter’s round once a month at the Maxwell House along with my brother Danny Wheeler and three other talented songwriters! You’ll never know who they will be until I announce it. Another thing that has kept me busy, busy, busy, is the “2nd Generation” or the “Nashville Brat Pack”, as we call ourselves. This is the sons and daughters of Country Music Legends! We have filmed two Shows on Larry Black’s “Country Family Reunion”, on RFD TV. The last one was called “Country’s Family Reunion 2nd Generation”. We have so many sons and daughters of the great country legends that I don’t want to mention any of them by name, because I might leave somebody out and that’s not fair to them. We are working the Nashville Palace on April 2, 2015 and we are working 3rd and Lindsley on June 11, 2015. Remember Fan Fair (as I call it!) starts on that day. So folks will be in town for this. It starts at 7:00 p.m. Danny and I are still working on our Duet Album, and I’m in the studio putting down the songs that I wrote. And let me say….that I am working on my book! I know, I know! It’s been a long time and with my songwriting, studio, shows and everything (I have a lot of excuses don’t I?) it doesn’t leave me much time to write. BUT I promise to work on it. I’ve gotten a lot of feed-back on writing the book, people telling me to get on with it, so I will! Hahaha! And I’ll try to do better on the “Blog” thing!