On July 10th, 2024, my world changed forever. My daughter Emily Dawn Barnett 32, died from fentanyl overdose poisoning. She had been fighting her addiction for 3 years. 
Any addiction starts out innocent enough, “I'm just going to try it, once”, we say to ourselves. The days, weeks, and years fly by and the next thing you know you become the thing you never imagined you would be. And the person you could be is so far away. 
Emily was on her way to becoming a very talented and compassionate Home Health Care Nurse. Our community has lost a much-needed caregiver. Everyone she worked with said she was a natural, her patients asked for her by name. 
In the past, I would suggest to her that she go for a career in the medical field, but she didn't think it would be a good fit for her. Then my mother (her grandma) had a heart attack and was suffering from throat cancer. So, grandma was put on hospice, in her home. Emily was with her everyday caring for her in every way. That's when her journey began as a home health professional. The hospice people were very impressed with her and told us that people like Emily were very much needed. So, she went back to school and started her education as a CNA with plans to go on to higher Certificates. Her addiction took over, and she was unable to attend and complete the course. She was working as a Nurses Aid until her death, but she was having attendance problems because of the effects of this powerful drug. 80 times stronger than heroin, in effect and addictive power.
She was living with me the last 6 months of her life. We had tried rehab twice. She tried to come off it here at home and let me tell you, the withdrawal symptoms are nightmarish. This drug makes your body and bones hurt, making you think the only fix is more of the drug. Terrifying hallucinations and insomnia on steroids. It's the nature of the beast; it won't let you stop. Please support and understand anyone who has overcome this or is struggling to overcome this. The odds are not good, I'm sorry to say.

Before she passed, she was reaching out to the sponsors of these billboards, Leona's Legacy of Love, Christy Maliszewski and Kelly Marie asking how she could help in the fight against fentanyl addiction. She had been reaching out to many family members of people whose loved ones were victims of this drug and were on these billboards asking for help and how she could help. And now she is one of the faces up there. It tears my heart out. I can only hope that it helps someone out of addiction, that's what she wanted to do, help others, any way that she could. Emily is 3rd from the left on the lower billboard. Please click on the photo below and support the effort in any way you can. Thank you

My first video in a series about my songwriting process. I'll be going from start to finish, with all the songs I'll be recording for a new album. I'll be covering lots of subjects and genres. Some will be Alternative Country, some Folk Style and Blues Rock/Southern Rock. All of these have been big influences in my life. Head over to my Videos tab Dave Barnett Music - Video Thanks for stopping by and sharing this journey with me.

So, I had my ENT appointment on Sept 22nd at the Kansas City VA. They ran a scope up my nose and down my throat (so much fun) to look at what's going on. 
I got to watch the video where they found what they called, lesions. I saw little white bumps on my left vocal cord. Anyway, that was enough to know something is not good. My Leavenworth VA Doc ordered a PET scan at the Topeka VA to make sure there wasn't any other things we should know about. It came back with just the 2 things we knew about, the vocal problem and prostate cancer. (I have very low-grade PC, just watch and see kind of thing there). What's up next? They will do a biopsy Oct 7th to see how to best treat this thing. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers on this, honestly, I feel pretty good about recovery. 
It will take some time, but I do believe my voice will be back and hopefully even better. I asked the Doc if I would be able to sing after surgery and he said there's a good chance and I said that's great, because I wasn't all that good to begin with lol. 

 I have been suffering from laryngitis for going on 5 months now (since March 2025). I have tried every home remedy under the sun, and nothing has worked. I have ENT appointments coming up so, hopefully relief is in sight. I appreciate your thoughts and prayers, thank you.

 So, I haven't been recording my songs, Honeymoon In Jail and Alien Weed because of this condition. But I'm working with John Craig and Bret Peters writing and recording their songs which is a lot of fun.