payson, AZ

Just finished our first concert of this long tour in Payson, AZ. very pretty area. we had an assembly for high school students today and finished with an evening concert in Payson sponsored by the local fine arts organization.
The seats were almost 100% filled which always makes for a more enjoyable show. Touring artists always say you can't let audiences determine how you peform. But, after being on tour for 7 years across the world and after being on a live TV show performing for millions....I don't care what anyone says....the better the audience...the better the show. It's all about feeding them energy from the stage and them giving it right back. No way around that.
Tonights crowd was great. couldn't ask for much more. I hope the rest of the tour goes well like this with the audiences.
for now i gotta get some rest...we have a 9 hour drive into Vegas in the morning.

New Music Video

Check out Youtube for the new Matt Wertz video...the song is called "Everythings Right." Actually...the song is not that new, but I'm just getting around to letting my friends know that I have a short cameo in the music video. Not really sure how I got a part in the video. I was in Nashville, TN with Lara for a few days and went with a couple friends to the video shoot in downtown Nashville just to watch. I somehow got recruited to be the photgrapher in the video. It was kinda fun....
If you watch the video I can be seen around :54. But don't blink cause you might miss me...haha.
I think I saw this video on VH1 recently, but I could be wrong.

remission

Just realized its been forever since I have posted a blog. sorry blog friends...I guess I am getting too caught up these days on twitter and facebook.
About an hour ago I had my 3 month check-up with my Oncologist. He reported to Lara and I that my last CT scan looked great and that I can officially say that I am in remission. And there is no need for another check up scan for another 4-5 months. That is great news as I'm about to leave on tour for the west coast. There was never any doubt in my mind that the cancer was coming back, but its always a huge relief to hear the doctor say that to me. Especially before my month long tour coming up.
The day before the Chapter 6 tour I'm flying to Portland, Oregon to see my favorite band Keane live in concert. Its their last stop in the USA for this tour and I couldn't miss the chance to see them again.
Then I fly to Phoenix to meet up with the band and we go from Phoenix to Vegas to LA to San Diego and then we travel North through Cali and then we somehow end up in Edmonton, Canada after many stops that i can't even remember right now. This is always my favorite time of year to be on tour. The weather seems to always be just right. Although...in LA the weather is just right about 99% of the year.
I will do my best to blog more over the next month while on tour, and once again sorry to my faithful blog readers for not posting a blog in almost 2 months. I will do my best to not leave my blog stranded anymore.
I'll enjoy these last few days of down time and then its back on the long road.....

bermuda triangle

Just flew home from Baltimore today where we returned back from our Cruise to Bermuda. Absolute paradise. We had 2 concerts the during the entire cruise so the work load was not all that tough. Unfortunatly none of the Chapter 6 wives were able to come because of their own work schedules. One day as we were all swimming in a cove in the beautiful coast of Bermuda I started laughing at the fact that we were actually being paid to travel to the Islands of Bermuda and swim in coves and eat all the food we wanted for free. Something just doesn't seem fair about that. It was too good to be true. Living on a cruise ship for one week was long enough for me. those rooms are tight.
Its good to be at our home in Missouri for the week until I get back on the road this weekend. If you want to see our tour dates check out chapter6.com. chicago this saturday night and then west virginia on monday night. And then.....I have 3 weeks off!! First time in a long time. Lara and i will finally get some alone time before I hit the road in September for several months as we tour the west coast. But for now, I am gonna enjoy Starbucks every day, boating on the lake, working out at our gym, watching movies at home, not sleeping in a hotel and enjoying having no chemo. I have my 3 month follow up CT Scan next week but i have no worries cause I feel great.
Word.

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.

Tonight I was able to see four of my former Elementary teachers in the same building. Kinda strange. I was reminded by one of them that I have not been blogging as much as I usually do. I felt like I was in trouble for not doing my homework so I thought I should blog tonight.
I have been relaxing this week in Indiana after a long trip in Florida. Thanks to all the staff and producers at the new Idol Experience at Disney's Hollywood studios. We enjoyed your hospitality and what a fantastic job you have done on the re-creation of American Idol.
And a big thank you to all the people at First United Methodist Church in Homosassa Springs, FL for bringing me in for a concert last week. Your new building is a real blessing for your community and Lara and I were honored to be part of your opening night. May the Lord continue to bless your church. I will come back to your church as a guest anytime in the dead winter:)
I will be back on the road Saturday with Chapter 6 for a week. We will be touring in South and North Carolina and Virginia. If you live close then be sure to come check us out.
One more quick note....It seems that one of my comments on my profile has been a little misunderstood. I don't think that American idol is a "horrible show." I meant that as a joke. American Idol invested alot of time into me. And, I invested so much of my life on that show and gained so many friends and connections that I thought it would be a little funny if i said "that show is horrible." I guess I will stop trying to be a comedian through my blog. I just really hope Simon Cowell isn't mad at me now.
Easy now.

concert announcement....March 26th

On Thursday, March 26th at the Crawfordsville High School auditorium I will be playing with a band for the evening for the community. This concert is sponsored by Wabash College and it is to celebrate Cancer Awareness week. There will be a cancer awareness walk at Wabash College on the track the following day. The concert on March 26th will be free to the public. This is a first come first serve concert so there will be no reserving tickets in advance. Be sure to get to the venue early that night to reserve your seat for the concert.
I will be featuring some new original material that night that has been written over the past 6 months. Don't miss it!
Lara and I are off to Florida!

touche

I know I haven't blogged in a while and many of you have reminded me about it every day. Thanks for keeping me on my toes.
I spent a couple weeks on the road with Chapter 6 and I spent all of last week in Nashville working on some "things."
I have most of this week off before I hit the road and the airways next week.
Today was a fun day on the set with E! Entertainment. E! is the show that Ryan Seacrest hosts and it is usually on in the evenings depending on where you live in the country. I have been asked by the producer not to give details on the show but my episode will air in early May. I will keep you updated on here when I know more specifics.
Next week Lara and I will be flying to Orlando and we will be speical guests at Disney World for the new American Idol attraction that just openned last week. The day that we visit the attraction happens to be Lara's birthday so it works perfectly. I have been told that the new attraction is an exact replica of the Idol stage from Hollywood. There are seven shows that are held per day at Disney with a live studio audience and then a finale at the end of each day. The winner of each show is given an audition at next years Idol and does not have to wait in line. Maybe they will even let me be a judge for the day.
I am planning on a relaxing week before we get back on the road next week for a very busy schedule. I will try to blog from Disney if they have free wireless from our resort.
peace out.

pictures of doctors

I had my 3 month follow-up with my Ocologist. The check up went well and my doctor and my chemo nurse agreed to let me take a photo with them to post on this blog. The first picture is of Terri, my chemo nurse. She is the one that stuck the needles in me and pushed in the chemo that saved my life. And she watched me vomit way too many times.

The second picture is of my family doctor Dr. Williams and his family at his house.

The last picture is of my oncologist Dr. Schultz, Lara and I. Dr. Schultz has never had a patient with Hodgkins Lymphoma have a relapse with Hodgkins. He said today that I can't be his first. I said it's a deal.

Off the road and resting

Good to be home for a few days. We had a great and very productive week in Nashville. Great meetings and great people down there. My manager Phil demanded that I set up a face book account. I tried to avoid it as long as I could but there was not much I could do. So, I now have a face book account that I am having trouble keeping up with. If you are on face book then face book me! I guess that is the new saying.....Face book me!
Thursday I have my first check up with my oncologist post chemo. Friday I hit the road with Chapter 6 for about a week and a half and then it's back to Nashville after that. Every day people ask us where we live. I tell them that hotel rooms are where we live.
Stay warm. More snow on the way in the midwest.
One more bit of business to take care of. To all the faithful bloggers that keep up with my blog you have some competition out there. Julie from Chicago has now come to a second concert of ours in Chicago. She even brought her entire family to the concert Saturday night. Nice work Julie! You all have some catching up to do.

In Nashville

I am sitting in a coffee shop with Lara right now in Franklin, TN. We are both typing away on our laptops. Just finished a couple meetings here and co-wrote most of the day today with Jamie Moore and Sam Mizel. Sam used to tour with Matthew West in his band. Sam is an incredible writer who comes up with inspiring ideas super quick. I have written with Jamie a couple times before and just found out that Jamie is a Dove Award winner and a Grammy Nominated writer for the song "Made to Love" that is recorded and co-written with Toby Mac and Aarron Rice. I asked Jamie today why he never told me before about these awards and he looked away with a smile and said..."Grammy and Dove awards mean nothing......you still have to come into work the next morning." What a lesson that was for me about humility.
The rest of the week is booking up quick. I will be traveling around the town with my manager Phil and meeting with Word publishing, a record label and an agent. And we will squeeze in time to record the demo version of the song that Jamie, Sam and I started today.
What a great feeling to be alive and healthy enough to do these things on a daily basis. It truly is a blessing to feel healthy and everything that happens from here on out is icing on the cake. It is difficult to take life for granted these days.
I will try to include videos for you in the future of some of our time in the studio. I am gonna try to bring in a video camera in the studio so that you can see some of the writers I am working with and introduce you to some of the people I have been hanging out with in Nashville. Stay tuned. I hope to be more interactive with you in the coming days and weeks now that I am not stuck to the couch in between treatments playing XBox. As much fun as that was..... Its time to get out and do work!
Lets Do Work!
The Lord is good.

back home

Just arrived home from the latest tour with Chapter 6. I will be home for 2 days until I drive to Nashville for a week. It will be great to be there again and I am hoping to start where I left off when I was in the middle of chemo. September was the last time I was able to drive there. I postponed most of my trips at the end of the year so I could rest up and recover from treatments. My work outs are back at full force and my energy is slowly coming back to normal. After our concert last night it was great to meet a young lady who had just finished chemo. What an amazing connection the Lord has provided me to connect with other cancer survivors. I think she was more of an inspiration to me than she knew. As soon as I walked on stage it took no longer than 5 seconds for me to spot her as a recent cancer patient. She had the biggest smile the entire concert. She knew as well as I did how to enjoy every breath. Can't wait to meet others at future gigs.

it's cold and nasty

I spent most of my winter last year in LA and this weather is just not fun. I checked the temp. in LA and it's 80 degrees and sunny all week.
I am just finishing up a short tour with Chapter 6 in Michigan. I think most of the schools around here are cancelled today because it's so cold. We will be performing at Western Michigan University tonight and it should be a good time. Hopefully the weather will not keep away the fans at our concert tonight.

Job

I have been reading the book of Job the past few days. If Job only had to go through chemo and radiation he probably would have been a happy man.
Here is what I read and what I would like to pass on to you.....

(NIV)
Job 11: 13-16
"Yet if you devote your heart to him, and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by."

1 more

My last radiation treatment is tomorrow. 1 more and then Lord willing I am done with treatments.
Thanks to everyone on this blog for cheering me on from the sidelines. It has been a blessing to read your words of encouragement throughout our journey.
Lara and I are excited for what the Lord has ready for us. We don't know exactly what it is yet but we are working on listening to His voice.

busy Christmas and new year

I know I haven't blogged in a while. I have been super busy with radiation every day, 2 trips to the ER, and 3 trips to Illinois in between radiation to visit with family for the holidays. It's been a little too much.
Only 2 raditation treatmets left. Tuesday will be my last day of radiation. I have become so used to driving 2 hours a day for radiation and I don't know what I will do with myself when it's all finished. I haven't had much time away from medical professionals in about 8 months. It's almost like I am about to be released from the prison of cancer.
I am with Lara at her parents house so I should stop blogging and spend time with them. We are opening Christmas presents tonight with the Moffetts.
God is good and we are thankful for our trials.
Happy New Year!