FRANKLIN — Grammy Award-winning country singer Kathy Mattea wowed  crowd with a high-energy, passionate performance before about 800 people on July 20 at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts.

Besides singing and strumming her guitar to some of her big-time hits, she joked with the crowd about her South Charleston, W.Va., roots, her near-“Deliverance” experence and the fossil fuels — coal and gas — that were the subject of some of her songs.

Mattea sounded superb, and was backed by a talented trio of musicians. Her lyrics reflected environmental concerns and an intriguingly introspective twist to her personality.

One of her first songs, “Lonesome Standard Time,” prompted much enthusiasm from the crowd, setting the pace for the remainder of her 90-minute show with no intermission. Afterward, she signed autographs for a long line of fans.

Joking during the show, she quipped, “Who knew you had a place like this (the SMCPA) on top of a mountain in North Carolina?”

More seriously, she praised the Town of Franklin “for building a place like this to celebrate the arts.”

Mattea also said that, no matter one’s political stance, it is important “to have civil conversation when we disagree.” The crowd cheered.

One of her other songs that stood out and drew a large crowd response was “18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses.”

On a nostalgic note, Mattea, later in the concert, announced that she would be playing her first hit, which she record 27 years ago. She added that she is is 54 years old now.

Indeed, Mattea’s first big hit was “Love at the Five and Dime,” a cover of Nanci Griffith’s song. The crowd responded with much applause.

Perhaps one of the most haunting and memorable songs of the night — and a complete surprise to this reviewer — was her rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.”

Just like Stones’ lead singer Mick Jagger, Mattea sang the following:

“War, children, yeah, it’s just a shot away

It’s just a shot away

War, children, yeah, it’s just a shot away

It’s just a shot away, hey, yeah....’

However, in her version, Mattea ended the song with some tweaking of the lyrics to reference peace — and added the highly provocative line:

“It’s just a kiss away.”

Mattea’s rendition of the Stones’ classic aws greeted with rousing applause that was repeated throughout the show.