Vince Gill Recalls the Moment He Knew He Would Be a “Heathen Musician” for the Rest of His Life

Some people don’t find their calling until later in life. However, a lucky few find what they know they’ll do for the rest of their life before they’re out of high school. Vince Gill fits into the latter category. He had the “ah-ha” moment that let him know he would be a lifelong musician while he was still in elementary school. Now, decades later, he’s one of the most lauded singer/songwriter/musicians in Nashville.

In 2020, Gill sat down with Musicians Hall of Fame founder and CEO Joe Chambers to talk about his long career. During their conversation, he revealed how he got started playing guitar and when he knew he had found his calling.

[RELATED: Vince Gill on What Sets Him Apart From Other Musicians: “Therein Lies a Pretty Big Difference”]

Vince Gill Grew Up Surrounded by Music

Chambers asked Vince Gill how he got started. “Well, just like most people I think a love for it for as far back as I can remember,” he replied. “My father played a little bit, my mother played harmonica for about two songs then she was out of breath and she was done. My grandmother was a pretty accomplished piano player around Oklahoma City, in a little town called Yukon, Oklahoma. So, I was always around music. My big brother played a little bit. And I loved records. They played records, they played music,” he recalled.

Gill went on to say that he started getting familiar with his instrument at a very early age. “I have pictures of me sleeping with a guitar on a sofa when I was probably two years old. My arm was around this guitar. I don’t ever remember not playing. The crazy thing is, I was crazy enough to try,” he said.

Gill’s “Ah Ha” Moment

Vince Gill can’t remember a time before he started playing music. However, he can remember the moment he knew he had found his calling. “The first place I played in front of people was in grade school,” he recalled. “I can’t remember what grade it was but I went over and they let me play ‘House of the Rising Sun.’ I’m playing a song about a house of ill repute in grade school and I knew the die was cast. I knew that I was meant to be a heathen musician for the rest of my life,” Gill said.

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