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Phil Vassar

Country recording star Phil Vassar can't wait until he's back on Virginia soil. The Lynchburg-native will be performing at the State Fair of Virginia on Sept. 25.

This isn't the first time Vassar has appeared at the State Fair . He opened the fair in 2003.

"Coming back to the State Fair of Virginia is a big deal for me," Vassar said during an interview from Flint, Michigan.

"I want to concentrate on coming back home to perform. I miss my family and friends. You think of those things as you grow up." Vassar, who moved to Nashville in 1987, was named Top New Male Vocalist at the 2002 Academy of Country Music Awards and has won ASCAP awards for writing and performing several times.

His current album "Prayer of a Common Man" is his first studio album in four years and his fist venture with Universal South Records. His last single from the album, "Love is a Beautiful Thing," was a chart topper.

Vassar is often referred as "country's leading piano man." That may be part of the reason he ventured out on an acoustic tour earlier this year. "It was just me and a piano," he said. "It was one of the coolest things I've done in a long time."

During the tour, Vassar played to smaller venues that seat up to 3,000 people. "I started with a list of songs but then I started asking people what they wanted to hear," he said. "It was fun. I wanted to try this and it worked. Every show sold out."

A top songwriter, Vassar writes at home and when he's on the road. "I'm always trying to write, if I can," he said. "The last few weeks I've had lots of ideas for songs."

He's also venturing into acting. "I'm trying to do a whole lot more," he said. "I also did something for Will Ferrell's website. I like to shake it up a little and not get too bored." This year, Vassar had one of those déjà vu moments when he performed with county music legend, Merle Haggard.

"The first concert I ever saw was Merle Haggard," Vassar said. "I got to see him at Kings Dominion." For the last few years, Vassar has put a special emphasis on family time with his daughters Haley, 10, and Presley, 5.

"I have different priorities than I did when I was younger," he said. "I'm always thinking about my daughters. It's their smiles that make me happy." Both have inherited Vassar's passion for music.

"Both of them are freaky good," he said. "My five-year-old is taking keyboard lessons and my 10-year-old sings and dances. I want them to have the opportunity to do what they want to do. That's what a father wants for his daughters."

Vassar believes that more and more people are tuning in to country music, especially in these difficult economic times.

"You have real people searching for real songs that are lyric driven," he explained. "Country songs say something that means something to people. All of our shows have been great. People are really excited about the music."

Phil Vassar will appear at the State Fair of Virginia.on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. This concert is part of the Toyota Tacoma Concert Series. Tickets are $25 each and include walk-around admission.