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Dear Fans,

I'm going on tour again! I can't believe we are already thinking about it, but to get some of the dates we want, we have to make early decisions. 

We have a few cities booked that are our anchors and now we get to play with the calendar. We are excited to be coming to some brand new cities this year, and returning to our favorites. 

Check back often, as we are confirming new cities every week. 

So anxious to see all of you again this year!

Lorie Line

Dear Fans,

I'm so excited to be going back into the recording studio! Yes, this spring I will be working on a new album called THE KINGS (complimentary to my latest THE QUEENS album). It will feature 14 songs on a CD and in a Music Book. We are currently exploring licenses and getting publishing approvals (wish me luck!!!). 

I can't wait to share this new music with all of you. Be sure to check back soon!

CURRENTLY CONSIDERING THESE SONGS (pending license approvals)

What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

Raindrops Keep Fallilng On My Head (Burt Bacharach)

Piano Man (Billy Joel)

Can't Help Falling In Love (Elvis Presley)

My Way (Frank Sinatra)

Friends In Low Places (Garth Brooks)

Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)

Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)

Billy Jean (Michael Jackson)

Galveston (Glenn Campbell)

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone (Bill Withers)

Great Balls Of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis)

Your Song (Elton John)

Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver)

Purple Rain (Prince)

God Bless The USA (Lee Greenwood)

Touring for 36 years, I have always had a couple of concerns on my mind. The first one: getting sick and not being able to perform. The second one: having my mom or dad pass away while I'm out on the tour. 

My mom passed away three days before opening night this past year. It only gave me two days to grieve, because I had to gather my thoughts (and look good) for the opening show. I really don't know how I did it, but I made my mind up I would play every night with her on my mind and in my heart. The tour would be for her. I just had to make it through the first night. And then, well, every night.

The last time I saw her was on her birthday, just six weeks before she died. She and my sister share a birthday (2 days apart), and my mom was hosting a party for my sister. (In reality, she was hosting the party for herself.) Lorraine loved a party. All her small group Bible class friends would be there and the thing that would make my mom happiest would be for all her five kids to be there. It just so happened we had a four-day window with nothing to do, so Tim and I hopped on a plane to Reno, and surprised her by showing up in her backyard just in time for the party. Oh she was happy. 

That weekend, after the party, we sat on her couch and just talked, just the two of us. She told me her body was failing and breaking down, she could feel it, and that she probably only had six months to live. She could only sleep sitting up, so I suggested we go and look at a "Lazy Boy" recliner chair. Typical mom, she didn't want to spend the money . . . and it wouldn't match the furniture in her beautiful family room. But eventually she agreed to "just go look" at her favorite furniture store.

The next morning Tim and I picked her up. I had spent extra time getting all "dolled up" for her that day. Tim dropped the two of us off at the front door (so she didn't have to walk from the parking lot). When we walked through the automatic sliding doors there was a woman who was the greeter, encouraging guests to "register for a free trip to Hawaii!" When the woman saw us, she literally stopped talking and gasped and said, "oh my, you are so beautiful!" 

She wasn't talking to me. She was looking at my mom.

That pretty much sums up the entirety of my mother. When she walked into a room, she lit it up. Instantly. She was a grand woman who always made a grand entrance, and consumed the energy of an entire place in every way. "Who is that?" That's Lorraine.

My mom could do anything (except play the piano). She could cook, sew, can food, teach a Bible class, sing, ride a bike, play tennis, run a half marathon (at age 70), fix and repair anything, and decorate a house with no money. Once we hung gift baskets (that people had given us) on our living room wall. It was the prettiest thing I'd ever seen. No Van Gogh for us! I believe it was my mom's creativity and love for entertaining that inspired me my whole life and made me who I am. 

One of the things I'm most proud of about my mom was her business savy. When she turned 40, after raising five little kids, she went to work as a secretary for an insurance agency. When she asked for a raise, and didn't get it, she decided to become her own agent. She passed the test and opened up her own Farmer's Insurance agency. She established a partnership with other successful agents and together they bought an office building. Eventually the State of Nevada bought her building and the highway division put a road through her property. She relocated one more time and at the age of 76, she retired and sold her business, which financially supported her until she died.

When my mom was 75, after 30 years of being single, she married the local pharmacist. I had something to do with that and will share the details in another blog soon (The Feather Theme) as it is an unbelievable love story in and of itself.  

Another highlight of my mom's life was purchasing a beautiful home in the northwest part of town, which ended up being the prettiest and most desirable part of the city. Her home was the entire inspiration of the second half of her life. I had the privilege of helping her stage it and redecorate it a couple of times. She'd love it when I'd come to town and move her furniture around and group her collections together, creating a whole new look. 

In her final years, she joined a small group at church. Tim and I had been doing this for a couple of years, and I'd share stories which I think inspired her to try this new concept of socialziing with like-minded believers. I truly think these last years with her Bible friends were the most joyful years of her life. She made genuine friendships, and got to show off her beautiful home and use all her entertaining skills that she'd been practicing her whole life.

My mom never called me. Every five days or so, I would call her. (I actually don't even think she knew my phone number.) So when I knew the end was near and hospice was coming in, on a Saturday morning at exactly 8:00 AM (her time) I called her. I knew it would most likely be the last time I'd get to speak to her as I heard they'd be giving her a little morphine to comfort her that day.

She didn't answer. Those of you who have lost a parent know the feeling. I was distraught. I was too late!

But then something happened . . .  a miracle.

My phone rang. 

My mom who never called me, called me. She must have hit redial. There was just a little moan on her end. She couldn't speak . . . but it was her. She was alone . . the other end was silent and she was listening. It was clear she could understand me. 

"Mom!" Tearfully, and rapidly, I said all the beautiful things I could possibly think of in my little head in that brief moment . . . expressing all the  "thank you's" for all the blessings she had bestowed upon my life, telling her how much I loved her and would miss her. Over the phone I prayed out loud, asking God to receive her at the gates of heaven, and I asked her to watch over me, and told her that I would see her again . . . and to be looking for me.

I didn't hold back.

She said three audible things back to me. "Don't cry. It's ok." And of course, "I love you." And then most painful word I've ever heard.

"Goodbye."

Three days later she passed, November 11, 2025 at 7:57 AM . . . almost the exact time I had talked to her three days prior. It was Veteran's Day. I couldn't help but to think how wonderful it was that I got to say goodbye to her.

That night the northern lights were amazing. The heavens lit up and the sky was red, green, blue, orange, yellow. You might remember it as it was simply spectacular. 

Just like my mom. Always lighting up a room. A grand woman making her final grand entrance.

And this time it was heaven.

Rest in peace, Mom. I'll miss you every day.

The day I wrote this blog I made my mom's favorite dessert, peach cobbler. She always made this in a "pinch" when guests were unexpectedly coming (after church) to our house. It's quick and delicious. To share a piece of my mom, I thought I would share it with all of you.

LORRAINE'S PEACH COBBLER

Preheat oven 350 degrees

1 stick butter

3/4 cup flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 tsp baking powder

1 cup milk (or half and half)

1 (24 oz) jar peaches (from Costco)

Melt one stick of butter in a 11" x 2" round baking dish in the oven.

Meanwhile, mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the milk.

Pull the melted butter in the dish from the oven, and pour the mixed ingredients on top of the butter (do not mix). Spoon out the peaches from the jar and add them one at a time on top evenly into the dish (do not mix this, simply lay them on top in the baking dish). Pour the remaining peach juice on the top. Bake for one hour. Serve with ice cream.

To read Lorraine's obituary click here.

Lorie says she played the best she's ever played on a tour this past year.

She has been sick on a tour, but has never missed a performance due to illness.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE ANNUAL MUSIC LICENSE FOR YOUR CHURCH

Dear Fans,

Each month we offer our Lorie Line Linebackers a FREE MUSIC DOWNLOAD. 

WE'RE MARCHING TO ZION (from Heritage XI)

MARCH'S FREE! SHEET MUSIC OF THE MONTH! 

(click here to download this month's pick)

(click here to watch Lorie play this on YouTube)

(click here to purchase the book)

CLICK HERE FOR LICENSED SONGS ON SHEET MUSIC PLUS