Vince Gill and Maggie Rose have collaborated on a soul-stirring rendition of Bonnie Raitt‘s 1991 hit “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” along with a video featuring the two recording the song in the studio.
Faithfully replaying Raitt’s classic of unrequited love, Rose and Gill deliver an aching love song drawn from one last moment together. On their rendition, Rose comes in on the opening verses—Turn down the lights / Turn down the bed / Turn down these voices inside my head—and chorus with Gill entering on I’ll close my eyes, then I won’t see / The love you don’t feel when you’re holding me
Morning will come and I’ll do what’s right.
“I have always considered ‘I Can’t Make You Love Me’ to be one of those immaculate songs that any artist would aspire to write and perform so it was a dream to reimagine it,” said Rose in a statement. “The melody and emotion within that song are timeless so having Vince’s timeless voice took it over the top. I’m so grateful that he was willing to collaborate with me on the recording and that he shared with me in the appreciation of Bonnie’s original because such a legendary song deserves a legendary voice like his.”
Written by Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin and produced by Raitt and Don Was, “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was originally released on Raitt’s 1991 album Luck of the Draw and reached the top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100 (at No. 18) and peaked at No. 6 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
Videos by American Songwriter
In 1987, Gill collaborated with Raitt, who added her backing vocals and harmonies to “Let’s Do Something” from his second album The Way Back Home.
Rose released her fourth album No One Get No One Gets Out Alive in 2024, a collection of songs spanning the many genres that have influenced the artist, along with more cavernous lyrics. Produced by Ben Tanner, the album features a band made up of members of Gregg Allman’s Band, Alabama Shakes, and Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit and her band with guitarist Kyle Lewis and keyboardist Kaitlyn Connor.
For four seasons, Rose has also been hosting the podcast Salute The Songbird, a series of interviews with female artists, including Heart’s Nancy Wilson, Martina McBride, Halestorm’s Lizzy Hale, Ashley McBryde, Yola, Allison Russell, and a recent conversation with Grace Bowers.
“I feel really renewed in my enthusiasm for making music,” said Rose in a 2024 interview with American Songwriter on her new album. “I’m really excited about the possibility of beginning a relationship with a lot of new listeners based off this music. Because it feels positive, and I feel like I’m in a very happy place. And that’s a great way to meet new people.”
Photo: Vince Gill (l) by John Shearer; Maggie Rose by Sophia Matinazad
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