Congratulations to my fellow Bluegrass Blog author Brance Gillihan and his wife Lauren on the birth of their first child, Hadassah Grace. She was born yesterday (4/27) at 4:00 p.m., coming in at 7 lbs, 13 oz and 21” long.

Brance tells me that she has long fingers, and I’ve no doubt that he is already measuring her for a custom, small body Collings guitar.

Needless to say, Brance will be absent from this page for the next few days, and we wish he, Lauren and Haddie all the best as they launch their new family.

Cards and well wishes can be sent to Brance’s office:

When we first got to Nashville on Monday afternoon, Brance and I were able to stop by the studios of XM Satellite Radio’s Bluegrass Junction at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and meet with host Kyle Cantrell. We have corresponded many times with Kyle, and enjoyed having a chance to meet face to face, and speak in person for the first time.

If you were tuned in to Bluegrass Junction on Monday afternoon, you may have heard us on XM with Kyle - a number of readers have written to say that they did. He was kind enough to play several tracks from the new Acoustic Endeavors CD, On A Farm, which he has featured a good bit on XM this year. Kyle also talked with Brance and I about The Bluegrass Blog, and prompted us to decribe the site and what we do here us to his listeners.

Thanks to Kyle and XM Nashville Executive Producer, Joyce Rizer, for their hospitality. See you guys next month at IBMA!