I have loved the Oak Ridge Boys for decades. Who didn’t? They have been “America’s Band” since the 60’s and the current configuration has been together over 50 years. But this past year has been a tough one.

I was so saddened and surprised to hear of the death of Senator Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma. He was a good friend who supported me from the earliest days of my political endeavors.

Today commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the biggest seaborne invasion in history and likely the most complex military operation of all time. Somehow, a massive invasion involving over 300,000 troops was kept secret until the moment it began on the beaches of Normandy.

Today is a special day for me. Today, May 25 commemorates 50 years of marriage for my wife Janet and me. We were married May 25, 1974, after our first year of college. We were both 18—a couple of months shy of our 19th birthdays which would be in July and August.

We are sorry to have to report that renowned actor Louis Gossett Jr. passed away Friday at 87.

Today marks the 79th anniversary of D-Day, the biggest seaborne invasion in history and likely the most complex military operation of all time.

I was taken aback a couple of weeks ago when I saw a video of a well-known Southern Baptist Pastor who stated that we shouldn’t be preaching about the infallibility or authority of the Bible because that might be offensive to non-believers and that we ought to just focus on the resurrection and the love of God.

Actor Robert Blake died last week at home in Los Angeles, surrounded by family. He died peacefully of heart disease at 89.

I am very sad to have to report that legendary actress and sex symbol Raquel Welch died Wednesday at 82 following a brief illness. She had avoided the spotlight in recent years, but remained active by running a successful wig business.

Today is the official Martin Luther King Day holiday, although his actual birthday, January 15, 1929, fell on Sunday.

Today is Pearl Harbor Day, the 81st anniversary of the “date which will live in infamy.”

All of us here are very sad to report that the queen of country music, Loretta Lynn, died this morning at 90. Her family said she passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.