Many years ago, Rhodes wrote a very personal song, “Little House on the Hill”. She always dreamed of performing, but it wasn’t until 2016 that Lyndell’s son, songwriter and sheet music producer Buddy Cannon, helped turn her longtime dream into a reality.
Paddy has worked with many artists over the years, but the one artist he considered the best person to bring his mother’s song to life was Willie Nelson, an American icon known for his signature voice and working-class mood.
Cannon passed the song on to Nelson from his mother, and before you could clap your fingers and dance the ballroom dance, “Little House on the Hill” was the title track on Willie Nelson’s 2017 LP, God’s Problem Child.
Lyndell heard his song for the first time
To mark the occasion, Buddy recorded his mother’s reaction to hearing his song played for the first time. With the audio clip playing in the background, he playfully asked her what she was listening to.
Lendl told him it was “Little House on the Hill”, and it was sung by “Mr. Willie”.
Soon Lyndell, overwhelmed by the moment, began to engage in music. Her red slippers swayed up and down to the beat of her song as she sang along with “Mr. Willie” in a comforting duet. It may have taken longer than I thought, but for Lyndell Rhodes, dreams come true.
You can watch her warm joy in the video below. It will perfectly bring a smile to your lips and joy to your heart.
