One of Vince Gill’s Favorite Musical Memories Even Makes Wife Amy Grant Laugh

Vince Gill has built his entire career on being more devoted to his instrumental craft than his celebrity, which is why he was able to take an experience that some musicians might consider a low point in their career and turn it into one of his favorite memories.

And for what it’s worth, his wife, Amy Grant, was laughing while it was happening, too.

One of Vince Gill’s Favorite Musical Memories

Vince Gill might have cut his teeth in the bluegrass and country music world, but like so many other guitarists growing up in the 1970s, he aspired to be like iconic rock ‘n’ rollers Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and George Harrison. So, when Gill first met Clapton at the Grammy Awards—because Clapton wanted to meet him—the country star said he was an “awestruck kid like I should be” in a 2014 Rolling Stone interview.

Clapton invited Gill to participate in his inaugural Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004, and Gill, of course, accepted. Gill recalled the moment he was standing on stage, “petrified,” in between Joe Walsh and James Taylor. “Not a fun place to be,” he said. “Amy [Grant] was with me, and she knew I was pretty uptight. She said, ‘I’m going to go out in the crowd and watch this.’”

“Joe finishes, and I went out there and the first thing I played was “Oklahoma Borderline.” Amy said it was really funny to watch. Everybody was filing for the exits to get a hot dog or a beer. En masse. But she said, then I started playing, ripping the solo up, and they all stopped. They all turned around and started listening, and, en masse, they came back in.”

“That’s a favorite memory for me,” he continued. “It’s an interesting thing being a really serious musician out of the country world versus the rock ‘n’ roll world. [Rock] musicians can be gods because of the way they play but in country music, that doesn’t really happen.”

The Star Is No Stranger To Music Goers Ignoring Him

Fast forward two decades from Vince Gill’s appearance at Eric Clapton’s inaugural Crossroads Festival, and Gill is back on stage with Joe Walsh performing as Glenn Frey’s replacement in the Eagles. In 2024, the rock band behind hits like “Desperado” and “Life in the Fast Lane” announced a Las Vegas residency at the Sphere. And even during these larger-than-life shows, Gill is still playing to people who aren’t paying attention.

“It’s the most people I’ve ever been ignored by when I’m playing,” Gill jokingly told American Songwriter. “You’re playing, and they’re all staring at all the stuff on the ceiling. They’re not paying any attention to you. It’s kind of fun, really.”

Given Gill’s humility throughout his career, it’s unsurprising that one of his favorite memories was a could-be embarrassing moment that he was able to laugh off. “I’ve always wanted to be moved by music,” the country singer said in a Southern Living interview. “By a song, by a musician. At the end of the day, that’s all I’m trying to do. I’m not trying to impress anybody.”

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