Well this hard to put into words but just wanted to let me friends & fans know that my wonderful daddy passed away very unexpectedly August 6th, 2008 from an accident that doctors at the hopsital should have caught but never checked into. My daddy is the reason I have a country music band and the reason I was raised to be smart enough to like, appreciate, enjoy and perform REAL TRUE PURE HARD CORE COUNTRY MUSIC!! My daddy taught me so many  things that I cannot put into words all that he taught me and meant to me and my family.  I could write a lifetime about that and still not convey the right words that can explain it all. This all just seems like a bad dream and like it can't be true.  Please keep myself and my family in your thoughts and prayers.  As my good friend Jon Hager said please tell your family and love ones you love them today because you never know if that will be the last time your able to tell them you love them. Daddy, I know that you are now in heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ looking down on us and that we will see you again in heaven. Thank you daddy for all the many things you taught me and for all the times and fun we had. You gave me your great sense of humor and moral compass to live by.  GOD BLESS MY DADDY TED VARNELL - R

So sad to begin this year with the passing of one of my good friends, Jon Hager, who like so many others has left us way to soon. I must say if you ever had the chance to meet Jon or Jim Hager.  You knew they were really sincere nice, good people. I've had the opportunity to work several shows with them in Texas and Tennessee through the last 8 years.  It was always such a pleasure to be around them. Everytime I went to Nashville I would always go to lunch, breakfast or to the local coffee  house to visit with my friends JIM & JON HAGER. In fact I was supposed to go have coffee/lunch with Jon when I called him with no answer then his sweet daughter answered and told me the news.  I was really shocked. Jon & Jim were truly talented singers and entertainers who never got the chart success they deserved.  I'm a huge Hee Haw fan so I can't tell you the many times I called Jon & Jim on the phone just to ask how something was done on Hee Haw etc.  They were always happy to take the time out of their schedule to answer my many questions that only they and a few others could answer.  I will miss them always and never forget my friend THE HAGERS GOD BLESS YOU GUYS! Thanks for the many wonderful memories and good times. RIP- JON I'll bet you and Jim are having a great time.  Tell Porter, Buck, Don, and my daddy "HELLO!" Just like George Jones' Song, "Who's Gonna Fill their Shoes," I really dont think there is any of todays so called country singers with the exception of an elite few that can even think about that! God Bless you -  Jon tell  My Daddy, Porter Wagoner , Buck Owens,  Del Reeves, Doyle Holly, & Your Brother Jim, we will miss you all forever & we will never forget all your great music & years of working hard to entertain all of us.