Vince Gill Recalls How an Impersonation Broke the Ice with ‘Sopranos’ Star James Gandolfini

Many fans know Vince Gill as a top-tier singer and multi-instrumentalist. However, many fans may not know that he also does impressions of other stars. Over the years, his knack for imitating other country artists and celebrities has helped him break the ice and brought laughs from those he impersonated. This skill also led to a brief conversation with the late Emmy-winning actor James Gandolfini.

It happened during the 2005 CMA Awards. That year, the awards show moved from Nashville to New York City for the first and only time. Both Gill and Gandolfini were presenters at the event. As a result, they were both in the audience. The country hitmaker greeted the Sopranos with a classic New York mobster impression and it led to a short exchange.

[RELATED: 5 Songs You Didn’t Know Vince Gill Wrote for Loretta Lynn, Alabama, Rosanne Cash, and Other Artists]

Vince Gill Recalls Meeting James Gandolfini

Vince Gill recalled meeting James Gandolfini during an interview with iHeart Country. “Here’s a good impersonation story,” Gill began. “The CMAs, one year, went to New York. It was the first time they ever did it. The only time they ever did it. And James Gandolfini from The Sopranos was one of the presenters that night so he was in the audience,” he added, setting the scene.

“I’m gonna go do the presentation for Glen Campbell getting into the Hall of Fame. So, they introduce me and I walk out to the mic and I go, ‘Hey, how you doin’?’” Gill recalled. He gave the greeting in his best New York Italian-American accent. He recalled that it was so spot-on that the person sitting with Gandolfini turned to the award-winning actor and said, “I didn’t know he was from here.” To which Gandolfini replied, “He’s not.”

“I finish my bit and James Gandolfini is coming to do his bit. He walked by me and was like, ‘Hey, that was pretty good,’” Gill recalled, laughing.

Gill’s Impersonation of a Legend Helped Him Make a Friend

In an interview with the Country Music Hall of Fame, Vince Gill recalled that when he moved to Nashville, his outgoing answering machine message was him doing an impression of “Whisperin’” Bill Anderson.

Later on, he met Anderson backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry legend approached Gill and demanded to hear his impersonation. So, in his best Whisperin’ Bill voice, Gill said, “I’m ‘Whisperin’ Bill Anderson and I wrote ‘City Lights.’ If you don’t like that, you can kiss my ass.” He told the CMHoF, “We’ve been best friends ever since.”

Featured image by