Country Artist Phil Vassar

Award-winning singer-songwriter Phil Vassar has penned hits for himself  - as well as stars like Tim McGraw, Alan Jackson, Jo Dee Messina & Collin Raye, but he had to jump a few hurdles to be accepted as a piano man in the guitar playing city of Nashville. In this episode of Conversations, Phil sits down with Michelle to share his story of breaking into the business, what it feels like to see his daughter follow in his musical footsteps, new projects on the way, and how he's been bitten by the acting bug

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Transcript

Phil Vassar: [00:00:00] I think of myself as that kid that, you know, wanted to learn how to play piano or do. Just, uh, I said, man, I want to write songs and I wrote a lot of just horrible songs. Right. And I'm like, God, this is terrible. And then one day I think sort of a light bulb went off and I was like, you know, wait a minute, I know how to do this. I think I can do this.

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Hey, it's Michelle. Welcome to Conversations. I'm excited to introduce you to some new guests in the coming months, but in the meantime, this conversation is from the vault. This week, I'm gearing up for a trip to Nashville, the only city I ever considered moving to, as years ago, I had dreams of becoming a singer songwriter in country music, but I never left New Jersey or became a hit singer songwriter, although I think my mom is still hoping that I get my big break and sell a song to buy a vacation home.

Never stop believing, Mom. In the early 2000s, when I was still considering a career in music, I came across the reality TV show Nashville Star. That's where I first discovered the talent of one of the [00:01:00] judges, singer songwriter Pharrell Williams. Phil Vassar. Like me, he too was a piano player, which is a rarity in the country genre where guitars seem to reign supreme.

I quickly became a fan of his work, having penned hits for himself, as well as artists like Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, and Jodie Messina. to name a few. Fast forward to today, Phil is wowing fans with his Hits and Heroes tour, has new projects in the fold, and I'm honored to be able to call him a friend.

This interview was done ahead of a tour stop in New Jersey two years ago when we talked about how he bucked the trend in Nashville, where he gets his song inspiration, and why more of the silver screen may be in his future. Hope you enjoy my conversation with Phil Vassar. Please welcome, my buddy, Phil Vassar.

Phil Vassar.

How are you? 

Phil Vassar: I'm great. It's so good to see you. I'm great. It's been too long. That's all I can say. It's a, [00:02:00] I can't wait to get back up to Jersey. I guess I'll see you in a couple of weeks or so. Right. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Yeah, it's coming soon, but let's start off with the burning question, because I think this is always cool for people to hear.

What was. Your first memory, if you can think of, of, of music, uh, the piano, because I mean, you really are, as, as I call it, the piano man of country music now. So do you recall when that, that passion kind of started? 

Phil Vassar: I mean, I mean, I, it's, it's always been in my soul. I think, you know, I've listened to music my whole life.

I mean, of course my dad was a singer and had a band and all that. So I mean, I've been, I grew up around music and especially. Um, songwriters, singers, of course, my dad, you know, my mom, dad, the Beatles, you know, all the way to, you know, George Jones. And I mean, it was very diverse, you know, and I had two sisters that one was a really big country.

She was always the Hank Jr. And the George Strait, uh, fan. And then my other sister, Terry was Iron Maiden and ACDC. So, I mean, I [00:03:00] was in the middle. I had. I, I liked all of it, Earth, Water, and Fire, and Billy Joel, and Elton John, and Jackson Brown, and you know, and, you know, all that stuff, I mean, Merle Haggard was my very first concert, and so, I mean, when, it was just something about like when I saw Merle Haggard, he, you know, he was a, uh, a great songwriter, and I was just, and it just, I've always been intrigued by guys that wrote songs, and of course, Billy Joel was, uh, was my hero, right, and Bruce Springsteen, and all that, I mean, I grew up, Um, you know, when, when I went to high school, went to college and I was at James Madison and all my buddies were from New Jersey and, uh, you know, Philly and a lot of those guys and, and they, they really, really turned me on to, to Bruce Springsteen, you know, so I'm like, holy crap, you know, this is, you know, it's a real edgy, More of an edgy sort of a, it's rock and roll country sort of, it's this fusion of all these different kinds of music.

And I just love it all, you know, so I'm pretty blessed, you know, that I got to hear James Taylor and, and folks like that at a young age. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: You've got tribute to Billy [00:04:00] Joel there on the hat there. So songwriting.

Phil Vassar: Yeah, I do have my Billy Joel hat on today. I love that, you know, and which is. You know, which is sort of random.

I, I just, uh, but of course, I don't know if Billy has his, uh, Phil Vassar hat on today, but I don't even know. I'll have to find out. I'll call him. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: We'll have to check in with him.

Phil Vassar: I know, but he is, uh, he is definitely, uh, been one of my biggest inspirations, you know, for him and Elton John. And, and, uh, but Billy, especially it's like, you know, whenever you, whenever I heard Billy, I could feel like I was in New York.

You know, it's like that, you know, of course coming from Virginia, I didn't, uh, you know, I was talking about that with Jeff the other day, we were talking about growing up, you know, the world was, you know, our little oyster here, you know, I was in Virginia, but we watched, uh, James Bond movies and we were in, you know, they should, we were in Europe or Bahamas or wherever and, and our music and never listened to Billy Joel.

I was in, I was in New York city or Bruce Springsteen. And I was in. You know, I was in New Jersey or I was in California. We'll listen to the beach boys. And I think music was a big, huge part of that. Bruce Hornsby did a great [00:05:00] job of having that, that Virginia feel. Um, I don't know what it is about music, man, but it's really transported me at that time.

Big for me. And U2, I'm sure, right? 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Yeah, well, U2 literally and figuratively, the band U2. I feel like you might be in Ireland, but just as a side note, when you said that 

Phil Vassar: But that's the truth. I love them. I mean, that was a, that was a thing. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: That was my first concert. I mean, come on, does it get any better than that?

I saw U2 

Phil Vassar: before they blew up. I saw them in a theater. Um, in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It was unbelievable. It was like, whatever. I had just heard of them. I'd just heard like, Sunday Bloody Sunday and all that. And of course, you know, I'm whatever I was. I was very young and I was like, man, this, it was inspiring.

I mean, I was just, I mean, I knew they were going to blow up and be massive. And they were. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: So you mentioned the songwriting, that you were really drawn in to Merle's songwriting, and you are such an amazing songwriter. And that's why I think, you know, my mom, just a little side note here, I hated [00:06:00] country music, like hated, but I did no country music.

And that was the thing. My mom was like, you should listen to country. I was like, I don't love that. I lost my dog. I lost my wife. I lost my house. And that's not all country music. I mean, there's some songs like that. So she convinced me to listen to country music. And one of the biggest things of why I was always drawn to it ever since then, because you tell stories, and it's such a really cool aspect.

So let's talk about something though, because you really, I would think would find in Nashville that you're going against the grain of what those typical big artists are doing. They're guitar playing cowboy hat wearing performers. So what was that like? 

Phil Vassar: Well, it was hard because it was everybody was always like, you know, well, You need to play guitar and wear a hat.

That's what we do here in Nashville. And I, and I mean, that's what I said. You mean like everybody else? Why have I got to be like everybody else? I mean, and, um, I mean, individuality is really a, I mean, even now, you know, [00:07:00] you go through phases in music where, you know, you try to break the mold a little bit and, and, And the business people here have nothing to do with that.

They don't want you, they want everything to sound the same, every song. I mean, and it, and it's, we're kind of that way. Again, it goes through phases and it's cyclical and then you'll, somebody will come along and go, what is that? That's cool. Right. But I think Nashville has always been more, you got to stay between these.

You got to stay between that, you know, that's what you do. This is as far right. Or this is as far left as you can go. And, uh, you know, I think things are changing a little bit, but I think that's probably because, um, you can, you, you can do things without record labels now, you know, and I think that's, you know, there's those gatekeepers are now kind of falling by the wayside, kind of like the Meister burgers, you know, in the old Santa Claus is coming to town movie, you know, they're just fall into fall to fall into the wayside, but it's fun.

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Yeah, you have a lot of fun and you really put yourself into these shows. I want to talk about that in just a moment. But before I do, let's talk [00:08:00] about the writing aspect because you managed to break in, you've got some huge songs for yourself. And you've got hits like my next 30 years for Tim McGraw, Bye Bye Love for Jodi Masina.

Can you pick a favorite? If you were forced to back against the wall, or is that like trying to pick your favorite child? 

Phil Vassar: Well, it is in a way, you know, I think, I think, you know, you could ask that, but I think every night, you know, when you're playing some one of your songs will hit you different, you know, and, you know, you've always got to do just on the in paradise, or I've always got to do whatever and I'm a writer, or, you know, whatever some of the songs that even I wrote for, Whoever, Alan Jackson or whoever, but my band is great and that's what I love because I have a band that I can just call out any one of a 150, 200 songs and they're just going to go, okay, that's a real gift because you know, not everybody, um, can has that.

And a lot of people stick to a script or a set list and I never have one. We, we walk on [00:09:00] stage, we never know what we're going to start with. The band never knows. And I never know. I mean, until I walk out and say, man, this is a fun crowd. Let's start with this. Let's start with that. Or, you know, some, some nights you're in a theater, you're more subdued and I'll walk out by myself and I'll play, um, black and whites or something like that.

So every show's different and that's what I like about it. It keeps it interesting for me, somebody that's ADD, you know, 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: let's talk about the shows because you give. 110%. I mean, you're jumping on pianos, you are like giving it all. You're doing it depending on the stretch of time for three, four, five, six nights in a row sometimes.

I mean, you're nonstop. So not only do you have that full performance, which it's so intense, the energy, the energy. that's needed to be on stage like that, which if you've never performed, it's just, it's incredible what you need. But then on top of that, you've got that grueling traveling schedule in between all of those dates.

What's the most rewarding part about being exhausted? I would think night after night after [00:10:00] night, what makes it worth it? 

Phil Vassar: Well, you know, I think it's the show, the show itself is the fun part, you know, and it's like, it's like we've always said, you know, we don't get, We get paid for the 22 hours that we're not on stage.

That's what we get paid for. Right. And I think that's kind of it. And, and you know, getting to go out there and play your songs, play your music and, and see you see folks that have done whatever, stop what they're doing to come to see you play. I mean, it's an honor. I mean, it really is. We are so blessed to be able to do what we do and, and have fans after 20, Plus years that keep coming to our shows.

And, and, and I mean, it's, it's, it's more fun now than I ever have. I think it's just, I think even with COVID and not being able to play for 18 months, I think that that was a real eye opening experience for all of us in all genres. You know, I've talked to a lot of my rock and roll buddies and I've talked to Tommy Shaw, my buddy from sticks, they're having one of the biggest years they've had since the 85.

I mean, it's, it's incredible. And I'm telling you, they're, they're just, they're [00:11:00] better than they ever were. And I, and I think. I think we're all have this renewed vigor, you know, that thank God. I mean, I think the fans are going to really get a real gift, you know, because it's like, we, I don't think any of us are taking it for granted anymore.

You know what I'm saying? Michelle, it's, it's just, you know, it's, it's been hard. It's been a hard time. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Do you still have those pinch me moments after all these years that you're like, do I really get paid to do this? 

Phil Vassar: Yes, every day, you know, I really do. I think of myself as that kid that, you know, wanted to learn how to play piano or do.

Just, uh, I said, man, I want to write songs and I wrote a lot of just horrible songs. Right. And I'm like, God, this is terrible. And then one day I think sort of a light bulb went off and I was like, you know, wait a minute, I know how to do this. I think I can do this. And then you have your first cut, then you have, you know, your first single, then all of a sudden you have your first hit song or your first number one song.

And then you have, you know, it's, it's, It's there's so many moments [00:12:00] in my life and my career that I just go, I did, did that really happen? Am I playing the White House again or whatever? You know, it's, it's crazy. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: You've got a daughter, Haley, who is in the music business. What is it like for you now to see your daughter get into that field?

Phil Vassar: I've tried to talk her out of it for years, Michelle. I mean, I really have. 

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Phil Vassar: I'm kidding, but she, she can write. I mean, she's ever since she was a kid. Um, and, and her sister do Presley, who is younger, she's only 18 now, but they could always write.

They were really good writers, you know? And I'm like, wow, like these stories, they come up with all these things. I'm like, You know, they're six years old and they're doing, where do you come up with that? Where does that come from? You know? So I've always been intrigued by their talents and they had their, their own gifts, you know?

And, but as you know, I mean, our, our business is so you've got to have a motor, right? I mean, if you don't have a motor that can just grind through the, you know, everyday [00:14:00] minutia of the business, right? Because it's every day. So. I mean, you're just, you're just going, Holy crap. And you know, you get beat down, you're knocked down.

People hate your songs. I had more people hate my music than at CM after I'd had the bunch of hits are like, I always knew you were going to, I'm like, no, you didn't, you were always an idiot, you know? So don't even give me that, you know? So I, I know I've got a good memory, you know, I remember I've got your comments right here on this piece of paper.

Dude. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: So I heard. Uh, I thought a little bit of a piano sound. Did I hear that? Do you happen to have a musical instrument in front of you right now? 

Phil Vassar: I'm actually in my room sitting.

Michelle Dawn Mooney: That's just ridiculous. 

Phil Vassar: Isn't it crazy when, when, uh, that's the one thing I can, I can have a grand piano in my room now. So I have that. And then I I'm so, as you know, you've known me for a long time, but I am very, very, uh, my mom is like, you know, 80 I'm the ADD poster child. I've always been called because I'm, I'm very, you [00:15:00] know, of course creative.

And, but I, you know, I I'll write songs and I go from one piano and then I get. I'll write in here for about 15 minutes and I go into my Florida room and I'll be right on the piano in there. I have four different pianos in my house. So it's like, I go from different, I know it's dumb, but it works. It's 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: fantastic.

It's like a dream come true. Are you kidding me? I feel like that's awesome. 

Phil Vassar: It's so weird, but I'm, I'm always, um, um, and I'm, I'm that guy. I can't walk by a piano without playing something, you know, it's like today I was just going, I was going, how does that Elton John song go? Right. Right.

You know? So anyway, I'm just Because it's my piano bar tour this year, so I'm trying to do a bunch of the covers. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: So let's talk about this tour, because it's chock full, as you said, of you never know what to expect. You've got the tour going through all over the country, you have been touring all summer, and then you've got something really special happening for the holidays.

So tell us about that. 

Phil Vassar: Well, you know, Dena Carter is one of my oldest, dearest [00:16:00] friends in town. As a matter of fact, Dena and I have known each other since, I mean, the beginning when I first moved to town. Um, and I just started playing piano, right? I just, I had a piano and I would carry it to these little clubs, these little bars, and I would actually go in and they're like, we don't have entertainment here.

I said, well, you do now, because I'm going to come in tonight and I'm going to play. I'm bringing my piano. They're like, you are? I'm like, yeah, I'm going to come in here and I'm going to sit up in this little corner and I'll play some music. And, and I was a big golfer back then, you know, I mean, I was a really good golfer back in that in the day and, and I would bring all my golf buddies, I would tell him, I said, look, I'm playing over at this club tonight, come show up, you know, and they're like, you are, you put you put what they didn't even know I played music.

So, so I said, yeah, so they all would come. And of course, all my friends drink a lot. So the bars were, would be packed. And I would just sit up in this corner and then everybody, that's how I started in bars, playing piano bars, playing Billy Joel, playing Elton John, playing Van Morrison or playing Brown Eyed Girl or Buffett or whatever.

I did all that stuff. [00:17:00] And, and over the pandemic, I, I would just do these little cover things. I did about five or six of these, uh, piano bar things where I would just do all covers. And it kind of took me back. I said, man, that's what I want to do when I go back out on tour. I want to like pay homage to, to Bob Seger or to Tom Petty or some of these artists, the Eagles, um, Billy and, you know, artists that I, I grew up listening to and, and really basically supported me for the first, you know, 10, 15 years of my career until I got my, I had my own hits, you know, and, and I love it.

I'm having so much, such a fun time. So I'm keep coming up with these songs like. Oh my God, I forgot about, you know, this, this song or that song. And then, and I just learn it. And the guys are like, every day I go, Hey, can you learn a Daniel by, by Elton John or like, Oh, like every day, it's like a whole different, we'll do a different 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: song.

But that's what keeps it so real because it's not, as you said, I don't have a set list. I don't have like, okay, we're going to go to this song and then we're going to go back from that one. It's just real. It's authentic. [00:18:00] You read the crowd. You're so good with reading the crowd, and you really give people an experience.

You share a lot of really cool details about some of the songs. And I want to ask you about that, because having four pianos throughout your house, which is so awesome, but where does that inspiration come from? Because I would think that at a moment's notice, you talk about, you know, I feel like I'm under, diagnosed ADHD, but like my husband all the time, like squirrel nut, like I just, all of a sudden I'm gone.

He's like, stay with me. I get it. How do you bring that all together? Where does it happen? Do you have notes? Do you keep them in your phone? Do you write things? I know Coldplay, they used to write notes on their piano. And after they finished every album, they would have the piano repainted. So what's your process of how you get those songs to come to life?

And how do they come about? 

Phil Vassar: You know, they just do. I think, you know, for me for a couple of years, I mean, it's funny because I didn't write anything from the time I was whatever here. When I came to Nashville as a, as a young man, you know, right. Just basically [00:19:00] fresh out of college. Kept writing and trying to find your voice.

You're trying to write in a billion different songs and different styles. You're just trying to find. I think when I, Bruce Hornsby was an inspiration on that end because he, he said, you know, when I was in LA, man, they were trying to get me to write pop, get and write, write all this stuff. And then one day I just figured, I just, I just started writing my own thing.

And I think when I heard him say that, of course, that first album of Bruce's really inspired me. I think that's when I said, you know what, man, you got to write about stuff you know about. It's like, I don't write any songs about, you know, You know, physics, because I don't know anything about physics or anything.

Or I was, uh, um, I was a failed history historian. I mean, that's where Carlene and all that stuff really comes from. Maybe, although history was my best subject, you know, but it just rhymed. But I think you just write about things, life, love your friends, your relationships, you know, heartbreak. I mean, which, you know, I'm a King of that.

My favorite songs are my best song probably is when I, when I go through a breakup, cause I do that all the time. And then, uh, uh, [00:20:00] It just seems like I write, I'm a good, I tell you what, I'll never, never make a piss off a songwriter because they'll write a song. Ask Taylor Swift's boyfriends, all of them, but I mean, it's, it's kind of cool.

I'm working on a new record to put out next year. Um, I'm, I'm just kind of getting in that creative mode again. And I mean, I've had, So much fun. I mean, I talked to a bunch of my artist buddies, my songwriter friends, and they're just like, dude, it's about time. I'm like, yeah, man, I'm ready to come back like with a vengeance.

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Yay. What about songs from the cellar? We too busy for that right now? 

Phil Vassar: You know what, we did three seasons of that. And I tell you what, that it was So much fun, you know, we did that in the, but I'm actually getting ready to shoot a new one. Um, the beginning of next year, we're going to try to start it in the fall, but I don't think we can get to it in time, but it's, uh, you know, building this new barn.

Um, this big piano barn is what I'm calling it. Phil's piano barn, funny. So it's in the back of my property down here, but we're going to start shooting some stuff. I [00:21:00] mean, I've talked to a lot of my Dennis Quaid and Billy Bob, a lot of my friends, and, and, um, um, it's going to have actors and music and athletes and, uh, maybe we're so excited about it.

It's going to be killer, man. It's fun. I really love the TV stuff. I love doing it. And, and acting, we did, uh, you know, a little short film. Um, you know, a couple of years ago and, and I want to do more of that. As a matter of fact, I was on the phone with Mark Cotley last night and we're talking about some stuff, you know, working on some things and, and, uh, I just really like it fits into my ADD.

It's like, I can't do, it's like I do this for a bit and then I go over here and I would have been a good ER doctor. Triage would have probably been my thing, you know, that's right. Fix the guy, the next one. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: If you could have like a dream job, because you're talking about, I mean, you have a dream job now, I mean, obviously, you love what you do, and you love your fans, and they are very loyal fans, but if you could pick a dream project, what would it be?

Who would it be with? Would it be acting, singing? Like [00:22:00] the big dream, like, I've always wanted to work with so and so, or always wanted to do this, fill in the blank. 

Phil Vassar: I mean, there's so many, you know, I mean, like I said, my heroes. And I've named a bunch of them today. Kenny Rogers was one of my dear friends and so was.

Merle Haggard, you know, we became, like I said, you know, you were my first concert. So I don't, then we ended up doing all these shows together and I'd get to the bit, he'd go, Philly, what are you doing? Come on over. So I mean, he'd call me, I'd come sit and talk to Merle Haggard for three hours. I mean, really before the show and he goes, and there would be situations where of course, you know, I would be opening for Merle or whatever and, or whatever, vice versa on some of these different festivals or concerts.

And he'd just go, I think, And he was supposed to headline that night. He goes, I'm going to get you headlined tonight. He goes, I want to go on early. So I go to bed. I'm like, you got it. I mean, he was just, you know, him and Buck Owens and of course, George Jones and these, you know, when I first got to town and got to meet Conway Twitty and, you know, I mean, the list goes on and on, right?

So I got to [00:23:00] meet all these guys and it became, it was so humbling. Johnny Cash. I mean, walking in a room with Johnny Cash, I just remember going, Oh my God. It's Johnny Cash. Anyway, you do. And, and he was so nice, Michelle, these guys were so nice. George Jones was so nice. He was, you know, and he was, and he was full of advice.

And I think that's what the thing, you know, here, I'm a 20 something year old kid. And these guys are like, listen, man, don't, you know, George was always like, do as I say, not as I did, you know, and he was always the first to say stuff like that. And then, um, and then I ended up buying a store bus when he passed away, you know?

So that was it. Right. So. I mean, when he passed, Nancy called and, um, and said, Hey, I'm still on George's bus. Do you want it? And that my bus had just been totaled, um, about two weeks before that. I said, yes, ma'am. So, so, um, I mean, I actually watched George's memorial service from the bus, from his bus, and which is pretty amazing.

So. Um, if you, if you'd have told me all this was going to happen, I'm like, no [00:24:00] way, you know, I mean, I remember when Garth and I met in the 80, whatever, and, and I'm like, Garth, and I'm giving him, I'm like, Garth, what kind of name is Garth? You know, whatever, we're just giving him art, you know, and, and, uh, you know, he was just always this driven.

And, uh, I mean, I just knew he was going to do. Something, you know, it's like you knew, and all of our, you know, me and Alan Jackson Chesney, all of us were all in this little, of course, a lot of these guys, I mean, blew up and became this, you know, and then a lot of them didn't, you know, a lot of guys that we hung out with, I don't even know where they are today, you know?

And so I just really do count my blessings every day that I have my dream job. I really do, you know, and, and, um, I I'm just blessed. Thank God. I really am. I'm just going, thank you. And let me work longer because my daughters need it, need shoes. You know, anyways, 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: well, we're blessed to have your talents out there because, I mean, I'm, I'm not saying just because we've become friends and, uh, just to make you feel good, but I mean, your songs really, [00:25:00] they, they, They touch so many people and you can tell the process that goes into them that you care about what you do and they really come from the heart.

As you said, one too many breakups and, and those, those love lore and songs that you know, but you really, you put out all of your emotion in there and it's so relatable to so many people who are going through. And not only that, I love the fact, this is my favorite thing that I find in songwriters that they can make you laugh and they can make you cry.

It's a beautiful blend. I love the fact that. You don't just do it to put on a show and it's about, you know, business for you. It's really, it comes from the heart and you really do care about what you're doing. You care about the people that you're doing it for. And that's why people I think are coming in droves to see you.

Speaking of which, you've got tons of dates. So people, no matter where you are across the country, be sure to check out philvassery. com. And then I'm excited for songs from Estellar because hopefully we'll see that in the new year. I want to see these acting gigs. I mean, Tim McGraw's in all these movies and shows now.

I think. You need to follow. [00:26:00] It's fun. You know, 

Phil Vassar: it's like I love doing it. It's like I've done four, like probably four movies, you know, had parts and I just did a short film and you know, I've done some TV, you know, whatever TV, but I think it's really fun. I think it's for guys like, and Tim's really good at it.

You know, it's like, I said, man, Tim is, he's really found his niche, you know, and And of course Faith too, you know, but I think, you know, there's Trace Atkins is doing all this stuff and a lot of the guys are really, really good at it. It's a lot of fun and it gives us another outlet for our artistic, I don't know, need to be doing something right.

Something arts, you know, and I'm excited about doing more of it. So we'll see what happens in the new year. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Well, I'm so happy you could join me and I'm looking forward to seeing you in person and please go to philvassar. com to the website to see all the things that Phil is involved with. But you know, I love you.

And uh, we'll see you soon. 

Phil Vassar: I love you too. Give everybody my love. Will you please? The whole gang. 

Michelle Dawn Mooney: Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Phil Vassar. You can go to philvassar. com for more information on his Hits and Heroes tour and all the other projects that he's involved in. [00:27:00] If you like what you heard today, I would love for you to leave a review.

And consider subscribing to the podcast if you'd like to hear more conversations like the one you heard today. Thanks again for listening and remember one person can make a difference and that difference maker could be you. We'll see you soon.