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The country star mixed tradition with modern style in his spacious Tennessee home
Country superstar Phil Vassar invites Closer to his tranquil Tennessee estate.
When singersongwriter Phil Vassar hit it big around the turn of the century with songs like “Just Another Day in Paradise,” he celebrated by moving with his young family into a grand Colonial Revival home that reflected his success.
“It was such a big house and such a big undertaking, but I said, ‘I’m at a time in my life where I can make this happen, and if it’s right in the middle of Nashville, I can’t see it being a bad investment,’ ” Phil, 55, tells Closer. “I’ve had to sink a lot more money into this than a new house, for sure, but it’s been a labor of love.”
The star, who’s written or co-written
as many hits for artists like Tim McGraw (“My Next Thirty Years”) and Alan Jackson (“Right on the Money”) as himself, turned this seven-bedroom, nine-bath mansion into one of his most notable productions. But he knew to leave alone the foyer’s original marble flooring and sweeping “old Gone With the Wind kind of staircase.” Though it was built some eight decades ago, “it’s definitely a Southern antebellum home.”
Still, he admits, “It needed some love. I was married at the time, trying to figure out what I wanted — and I didn’t want it to be my grandparents’ house.” He brought in a few decorators, updated the kitchen, replaced the elevator (which goes to the third floor) and turned the attic into a 1,000-square-foot suite. “I modernized it as much as I could without compromising its integrity.”
That meant adding contemporary art and other new touches while preserving its history. “The folks that built the house brought in 200-year-old fireplaces from Europe,” he says. “One used to be in a
New Orleans brothel!” The home has
seven fireplaces, in fact, enough to heat its 10,000-plus-square-feet of space.
One of Phil’s favorite areas is the Florida room. When he first saw it, he loved that “it was wide-open with all of these windows, and even though it was winter, it was so warm with the sun beaming in,” he recalls. It’s been the center of many celeb-packed parties over the years, which often spill out to the large pool just outside. “Some of the industry’s big stars are friends of mine,” he says.
There’s also a kids’ study area and a den where this now-single dad’s daughters
Haley, 19, and Presley, 14, can be found when they’re here. “One’s lying on the couch in the den watching TV right now,” he shares.
Phil’s just returned from a Christmas tour and has more concert dates coming soon. “But no matter what’s going on in my life, this home is a constant peaceful, calming factor for me,” he notes. “My daughter says, ‘Dad, I think I want to get married here.’
I’m like, ‘Let’s just wait a few years!’ ”
“My daughters are both awesome, and I love being their dad.” — Phil, on Presley [left] and Haley