Today is the anniversary of my daddy’s death. May 26, 1984. It has been 28 years ago today, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I miss him so much. He passed away while singing a new song he had written, on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. The Nelson brother’s, A. J. & Doyle Nelson were singing harmony with him. It’s strange that they started with my daddy back in the 50’s and they ended on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry with my daddy. I was singing on the Opry pretty regular at the time, but I couldn’t seem to even pass the Grand Ole Opry on Briley Parkway without crying. I came backstage one night just to face my fears. I couldn’t even look at the stage, and my daddy died in the circle from the old Ryman Auditorium on that stage. Roy Acuff knew the fear I had, and he asked me to come out on stage and blow the train whistle like my daddy used to do on the “Wabash Cannonball”. They led me out, and the memories were so hard. I left that night, mad at Roy Acuff, but I later went to his house and told him that I knew exactly why he did that. I could face the Grand Ole Opry stage once again. Thank you Mr. Acuff, and thank you God for giving me such a wonderful father.