Vince Gill emerged on the country scene as a member of country rock band Pure Prairie League in 1979. He left the group in 1981 to join Cherry Bombs, Rodney Crowell’s backing band.
By 1990, he was a solo country singer and captured the hearts of millions with his buttery smooth vocals and insane guitar skills. He went on to release hits including “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” “When I Call Your Name,” “Look At Us,” and “Whenever You Come Around.”
He knows a thing or two about how to write a beautifully sad song, and always tells a story through his music. While we have known and loved Gill for many years now, there are a few things we didn’t know about him! Let’s take a look at 5 things you may not have known about Gill!
1. His Favorite Country Song Is “He Stopped Loving Her Today”
While answering fan questions with the Today Show in 2003, Gill was asked if there was a country song that always brings tears to his eyes.
“My favorite country song I think is probably ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’,” he said. “Either that one or any Hank Williams song will work, you know, ‘Your Cheatin’ Heart,’ or what’s the really pretty slow one (hums)… ‘I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry’… might be one of the greatest songs ever. You know, there’s been so many I don’t know if I could pick a favorite. ‘Together Again’ is about as good a country song as ever, and I think that the record has a lot to do with it too.”
2. He Is An Avid Golfer
Gill has played golf since he was a kid and is very passionate about the sport. He has gotten quite good at it and even puts on charity golf tournaments.
It is rumored that he shot a 62 in a tournament, a 68 when playing with golf legend Arnold Palmer, and a 65 when playing with the legendary Tom Watson.
3. He Named His Youngest Daughter After A Song
In 2001, Gill and his wife, Christian singer Amy Grant, welcomed their daughter, Corrina, into the world. While looking through a baby name book, Gill heard a song by Bob Wills called “Corrina, Corrina” and really liked the name. He told his wife about the name, and she was skeptical.
“[Amy] called her Dad and Dad asked her what we were thinking about naming the baby, and she told him ‘Oh, we’re thinking about Corrina,’ and he started singing (sings) ‘Corrina, Corrina,’ and she was hooked.”
Watch Gill perform “Corrina, Corrina” with Asleep At The Wheel in the video above. His own Corrina comes out on stage about halfway through!
4. He Has The Most GRAMMY Awards Of Any Male Country Singer
Gill has been nominated for 40 GRAMMY Awards and has won a whopping 21 times. He won his first GRAMMY for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male for “When I Call Your Name” in 1990, and most recently won the Best American Roots Song GRAMMY for “Kid Sister” in 2017.
5. He Played Guitar On An Alice Cooper Song
We all know Gill as one of the most romantic and emotional country singers out there, but did y’all know he was once a hard rocking guitar player?
It’s true! He played lead guitar on the song “A Runaway Train” from Alice Cooper’s 2011 album Welcome 2 My Nightmare.
Which fun fact about Vince Gill surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!