DAILY DIRT: ‘Here Sweet Lips, come on Drunkard, come on boy … ‘

Daily Dirt for Monday, Feb. 17, 2025

The names of George Washington’s dogs is not the only Presidents Day item being offered by today’s Daily Dirt. You’re welcome … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 1,204 of The Daily Dirt.

1. It’s Presidents Day, and what better way to salute the Oval Office than with the following facts I doubt many know about some of the former leaders of the free world?

• Two of George Washington’s pet dogs were named “Sweet Lips” and “Drunkard”. Washington owned many dogs, including American Foxhounds, French hounds, Greyhounds, Newfoundlands, and terriers. He also gave his dogs names that related to music or singing. 
• Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant was invited to join Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theater on the fateful night of April 14, 1865, but was forced to decline because he and his wife had made plans to visit their children in New Jersey.
• Before Theodore Roosevelt assumed the office of president in 1901, the White House was not even called the White House. People called the building the President’s Palace, the President’s House and the Executive Mansion. Roosevelt officially named the place the White House.
• Benjamin Harrison was the first president to hire a female White House staffer. Harrison was president 1889-1893.
• William McKinley’s likeness appeared on the $500 bill, which was discontinued in 1969. 
• William Howard Taft, who served 1909-1913, was the first president to throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Major League Baseball game.
• Andrew Jackson once killed a man in a duel.
• Herbert Hoover (1929-33) was the first president to hail from west of the Mississippi River. He was born in Iowa and grew up in Oregon.
• Woodrow Wilson, in a 1914 proclamation, officially established the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
• John Tyler fathered 15 children, the most of any president (except for the ones Bill Clinton doesn’t know about).

2. Did you know (Part 279)

That the Goodyear Blimp was grounded for Sunday’s Daytona 500, due to strong winds that reached as high as 45 mph.

That in a presidential message released as he flew to the race, Donald Trump said the Daytona 500 brings together people from all walks of life in a “shared passion for speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the race. From the roar of the engines on the track to the echo of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ soaring through the stands, the Daytona 500 is a timeless tribute to the speed, strength and unyielding spirit that make America great. That spirit is what will fuel America’s Golden Age, and if we harness it, the future is truly ours.” Trump said “the golden age of America” began with his inauguration.

That Luke Grimes, who portrayed Kayce Dutton on “Yellowstone,” will soon be releasing a country music album.

That according to “Variety,” Kelly Reilly and her onscreen husband, Cole Hauser, will be reprising their roles in an as yet unannounced “Yellowstone” spinoff. While details are still scarce, the actress said she is anxious to explore new chapters of her character, Beth Dutton.

That Kendrick Lamar’s recent Super Bowl halftime show is officially the most-watched such event in history. The updated figures, according to Nielsen Ratings:

• 1. Kendrick Lamar (2025), 133.5 million viewers.
• 2. Usher (2024), 123.4 million.
• 3-tie. Rihanna (2023), 121 million.
• 3-tie. Katy Perry (2015), 121 million.
• 5. Lady Gaga (2017), 117.5 million.

3. The top five pop groups that had/have siblings as key members:

• 1. The Jackson 5: Kind of hard to beat this bunch. (I know, I know … it’s tough to remember the names of the “other” Jacksons after Michael. The answer is Tito, Jermaine, Jackie, Marlon and Randy. Randy didn’t become part of the entourage until 1975.)
• 2. Heart: Ann and Nancy Wilson are easily the top female entry in this category.
• 3. Bee Gees: Maurice, Barry and Robin … one the first albums I ever owned was the Greatest Hits (Vol. 1) of the Brothers Gibb.
• 4. Beach Boys: For awhile in the 1960s, Brian, Dennis and Carl absolutely owned pop radio.
• 5. Carpenters: This one’s for the fans of soft rock. Karen and Richard always had a great sound, and it will always be one of music’s great tragedies when talking about Karen’s tragic ending.

Honorable mention: Van Halen, AC/DC, Ronettes, Kinks, Everly Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bangles and UB40.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — Cracker Barrel is now offering a menu item called “Oreo Stuffed Cheesecake” pancakes. WOW. Just a guess, but no dessert will likely be needed after this one.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Can you tell Steve isn’t a rocker? To not have Van Halen or AC/DC in the top five is criminal. One of them at least …