Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss at The Woods at Fontanel

We make the 40 mile trip to Nashville about 2 or 3 times a month.  We like going to the farmers market there and since Thomas lives in east Nashville we visit him every so often also.    A few years ago we noticed a brown tourist attraction sign go up for Fontanel Mansion.  We really didn't think much about it until we heard that they had a concert venue there also.

Fontanel Mansion is Barbara Mandrell's former log cabin mansion and farm.  It was sold a few years back and turned into a turned into a tourist destination.   So when we had an opportunity to see Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss there we jumped at the chance.  I ran into Willie Nelson in 1995 when I was getting off an elevator in Copenhagen Denmark.  I was there for an Embassy Inspection, apparently he was staying in the same hotel the night before his concert. Although at the time I cared little about Willie Nelson his famous troubles with the IRS were in the news at that time.  Being ignorant in so many ways of the world then I think when people pointed him out to me I said, so.

It was until much later I develop a taste for greater range of music and looking back at that moment have always wanted to see him play.   Willie Nelson although a great performer in his own right is an American Poet, a songwriter extraordinaire.  Wanting to see him partly because my father was such a big fan.   He would strum his guitar playing his songs by campfire many a night.  Probably one of his best remembered songs is Crazy made famous by Patsy Cline.  As a member of the Highwaymen, he is recognized as a pioneer of Outlaw country, with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and Kris Kristofferson.

Europeans are big country music fans because they appreciate the roots of the music.   So does Willie Nelson,he appreciates the roots.   This night when he first started playing, he did a montage of his hits. After this he and his son broke into a blues set.  Starting with a Texas Flood; "it's flooding down in Texas". He then did a rendition of Georgia on my mind.  I was amazed on how people really appreciate the blues.  Even if they really don't understand what they're listening to.

I have been to a lot of concerts and I have never seen such a range of people at this one.   He has such a great following of fans old and young a like.   Some of the older fans seemed to be there to say good bye to him sharing the twilight of their life.  Willie is 81 now, just turning that age this last April.  So who knows how long we will have him I this world.  He is a National Treasure.

Before Willie played Alison Krauss and Union Station took the stage.   Someone told me her voice is like an Angel sent from heaven.  That description is not exaggerated.  They sing a lot of bluegrass and are famous for there "Brother O'Art Thou" soundtrack.  It was just what I needed to hear in the twighlight of this perfect Tennessee spring evening.

At the end of the show Willie was joined on stage with Alison Krauss and Union Station to sing his new standard of Roll Me Up and Smoke Me when I die.  Although most think and it is an anthem for the legalization of Marijuana, to me it is more than that.   It it about living a life with no regrets with flaws and all.  We are all human after all.  Take me how I am because some things aren't going to change.

Someone asked me if Willie still had it.  I can definitely report that he still does and that at 81 more than we could ever hope for.  I was glad to be there while he shared it with the world.