It's Hot!

Just got back from Orlando, FL with Lara for a concert I had in Winter Garden, FL. I had a chance to meet and perform with the band called Adam's Road. A great group of young men who are also touring non-stop. Their tour bus is out of this world. I had a chance to sing with my guitar for about 30 minutes and then performed a short set with Adam's Road to finish up the concert. Thanks to all who came to the concert and supported the American Cancer Society in the Orlando area.
Today I am off to Illinois for a rehearsal with my music director for my California concert Sunday night. Thursday night I am with Chapter 6 in Lakeside, OH, Friday night with Chapter 6 at Crawfordsville High school at 7pm, Saturday night at Williamsville, IL at 8pm and then I fly to Mt. Shasta, CA on Sunday morning for a 7pm concert that night at College of the Siskiyous. After Sunday night I am going to try to catch my breath for a bit before the madness starts up again. If I see any Starbucks between Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and any airports I will travel through then I will be surviving off of them for the week just to stay awake.
I just swam 1k yards and ran a mile in the scorching sun. During each stroke in the pool and each stride as I ran I couldn't help but think that one year ago from today I was in round 2 of chemo. It feels so good to have somewhat of a normal summer now.
If you live in Ohio, Illinois, Indiana or California....I better see you at one of my concerts this week. Back on tour in 30 minutes.
Easy now.

its been a while

I know it has been a while since I have blogged. this is the longest i have waited to post a blog and it is because i have been on the road non stop on and off tour for the past 2 months. This summer is quickly filling up with tour dates across the country. It starts this weekend at a relay for life event in Bradley, IL on June 13th. Then I am off to Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Illinois, California and then a week cruise with Chapter 6 to Bermuda. I know...I have a tough job. I have been reflecting back recently on last summer. It was exactly 1 year ago that I had just finished my first chemo. There was so much uncertainty in my life and it didn't seem fair that I had to put my life on hold for 8 months. I was trapped in the world of cancer and didn't want to show any weakness because of all the attention that came along with it. There didn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. But now I am so blessed to feel so healthy to travel and share my music, my story and meet other people who have been through similar struggles. Its great to be alive.

E! on Thursday Night

Don't forget to watch E! television on Thurday night at 10pm Eastern time. I will be featured on the episode called "Celebrity Medical Nightmares, In Their Own Words." Make sure you check your local listings because times may vary depending on where you live in the country. It will be a short segment with me talking about the last year of my life on Idol and my battle with Cancer. It will be a pleasure to speak on E! as a representative for Cancer patients. Get your Tivo's ready.

stranded

I am stranded at the Philly airport. My flight was supposed to leave at 11am this morning, but it was cancelled. The earliest flight I could get was 6pm. It is kind of a relief to have a cancellation like this because I have only had one day off in the last month and I have been surviving by Starbucks drinks everyday. I have found a little hideaway spot at the airport with food, internet and flat screen tv's with ESPN. Sometimes cancelled plans are not such a bad thing. This is giving me a chance to sit and relax and not be rushed like I have been this whole month. And I finally have time to blog!!
Tomorrow I will be near St. Louis for 2 days speaking and singing at a church for the National Day of Prayer. What a cool day to honor.
I will be with Chapter 6 this weekend in the great state of Indiana.
Another bit of news for all you Colts fans....I will be singing the National Anthem for the Colts on October 4th at Lucas Oil Stadium vs. the Seattle Seahawks. I hope to meet my idol Peyton Manning.
Finally, I hope you can all join me in keeping the Cook family in your prayers this week. They have been a big support to me this year with my cancer battle and they provided me with lots of inspiration during my chemo. Dave and his family spent a day with me at my home after my first chemo treatment. Great family and a very sad loss for them this week. It was very humbling to have that kind of support from them.
Lets also pray that one day there may be a cure.

Happy Easter

I sang on Easter Sunday morning at Pleasant View in Crawfordsville, IN. It was an honor to spend the morning there and to be able to share my testimony.
Monday morning Lara and I hopped in the car and started driving to the East Coast to spend a couple days with our family. We are staying just north of Philly until Thursday and then I will be performing for "America Sings" in Washington, D.C. at Constitutional Hall. Then I drive to meet Chapter 6 in North Carolina for a few concerts with them again.
As I type this blog I am looking out into a yard next to the woods and watching four deer eat grass about 20 yards from where I am sitting. Its a really peaceful evening tonight and it's good to have time to rest for a couple days before I get back on tour for a couple weeks.
I don't have a single day off in the next few weeks so this down time is very nice right now. I will drive about 4,000 miles in the next 2 weeks while on tour. see you on the highway!
He is risen!

back on tour for a bit

This week has been Cancer Awareness week. What an inspiration it has been to meet so many cancer survivors. It started on Thursday morning at FOX promoting my concert and the cancer walk at Wabash. I couldn't believe how many survivors attended both my concert and the Relay. Thanks to all who attended.
Last night at the Relay for Life I had a chance to play the piano and sing two songs as all the cancer survivors kicked off the night with the 2 lap survivor walk. It was a very moving moment for me and an honor to sing for all the survivors and friends and family of all the survivors. Lara and I stayed and met with people for a while and then had to leave shortly thereafter because it got a little crazy. Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to walk any laps at the beginning of the ceremony because of pictures and all the handshakes. So, before we went to bed we decided to drive back to the track at about 1:30am and we walked two laps. Not as many people were there at that time and we did our own survivor victory laps in the middle of the night.
In two hours I am back on the road with Chapter 6 for a short tour before Lara and I fly to Mexico for a much needed vacation.
I wish I could do a tour of Relay for Life marathons and sing at different Relay's around the country. It was very inspirational and touching to be a part of that. Glad I could meet so many people who have experienced the sickness and uncertainty that I have. Nice job Crawfordsville for all the support to me and the other survivors.

backstage

I am backstage getting ready for a concert tonight at University of Mary Washington in Fredricksburg, VA. Just finished sound check and I also just stuffed my face with food from Noodles. Bangkok Curry Noodles with Tofu and peanut sauce. yum.
We have had 6 concerts in the past 7 nights and this is the last one of this tour. Thanks to all the fans who have showed up this week. Its been really cool to perform for all of you and to meet you all after the shows.
We started this tour in South Carolina and made a couple stops in North Carolina and it ends tonight in Virginia. I wish I had my motorcycle out here on this trip. The weather has been real nice.
My next concert will be with a band on thursday March 26th in Crawfordsville, IN at Crawfordsville High School. The time is 7:30pm and the doors will open at 6:30pm. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago there is no ticket price, but the American Cancer Society will be there to take donations for those interested in helping out.
The morning of the concert I will be joining Jenna Maloney on Indianapolis FOX. We will do a little version of Idol chatter and discuss Wednesday nights Idol show. It should be live around 8:50am. I will also be plugging my show for that night of course.
If you have nothing to do tonight then drive out east and join me at our concert. It starts at 8pm. Later.