YELLVILLE, AR – At 108, Ozarks legend Violet Hensley continues to inspire with her autobiography, Whittlin’ and Fiddlin’ My Own Way: The Violet Hensley Story, co-authored with Randall Franks. This captivating memoir, first published by Peach Picked Publishing in 2014, will be available on Kindle starting April 30, bringing Hensley’s extraordinary journey to a new digital […]
I messaged a Heart of Texas Records friend, Tracy Pitcox, on Facebook, hoping we’d cross paths during our uncoordinated Nashville visits. Little did I know God had plans to weave old friends and new moments together in Music Valley Drive—a corner of Music City that still feels like home. Nashville’s changed since my youth. High-rises […]
I gripped Dollar’s reins as she spun 180 degrees, testing my rusty riding skills. With effort, I turned it into a full 360, regaining control. It had been 20 years since I’d last swung a leg over a horse, and I’d lost much of my knack. Yet Dollar stayed patient with me as we worked […]
My father cradled a stone in his palm, its edges smoothed by time. “It takes just the right one to skip,” he murmured, “sending ripples with every touch upon the water.” With a flick of his wrist, he cast it forth, and three perfect bounces danced across the lake’s glassy face. From each fleeting kiss, […]
Love—who hasn’t wrestled with its mysteries? From ancient ballads to modern movies, we’ve spent countless words and melodies trying to capture its many faces. Through my life, I’ve experienced familial love from parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Its depth varies by person, but for me, Mom and Dad shine brightest—their love steady and […]
Randall Franks, Officer Randy Goode of TV’s In the Heat of the Night, hosts “Doc” Tommy Scott’s Medicine Show Memories. Franks was Scott’s final celebrity co-star on his Last Real Old Time Medicine Show which was America’s second-longest-running production next to Barnum and Bailey from 1890-2013. Franks features performances from the show spanning its […]
Have you ever wondered why we have a tongue? Is it merely a tool to utter nonsense to those around us? Not everything that rolls off our lips is trivial—far from it. Words hold power, and what we speak can shape our lives in ways we might not expect. Consider a night from my youth. […]
We cleared the supper plates, leaving a few pieces of fried chicken, boiled ‘taters, and garden-fresh green beans to cover for tomorrow. The smell of fresh-baked cornbread hung in the kitchen as Aunt Short sliced her homemade chocolate pie, passing wedges around the table. With dessert and fresh-brewed coffee in hand, I knew the adults […]
Years back, I had a show in a small North Carolina mountain town I’d never visited, though I’d played many nearby. Wanting a scenic drive, I planned extra time to meander through the mountains and arrive well ahead of schedule. I’ve never trusted electronic GPS—printed maps were always my go-to. But this time, I consulted […]
From childhood, I learned that not everything that glitters is gold. I remember my boyhood experiences as a child playing by myself around a nearby creek. The gurgling of the water as it rushed over the rocks always filled my soul with a sense of peace. The sounds of the birds simply became an orchestra […]
