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Vince Gill got the flowers.
On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Gil, 68, received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 59th Country Music Association Awards. After receiving his award from last year’s winner George Strait, Gill reflected on the honor.
“This is amazing…and I’m pretty sure I’m the only person to ever win this award who has never smoked weed,” Gill joked. “But the men on this have been friends for a long time. We’ve known each other for 50 years.”
He continued of Nelson, “I respect him, but what I admire most about him is his willingness to embrace his family.”
Gill then went on to thank the “CMA family” for inviting her to host the awards ceremony 12 times, saying, “Trusting my butt on the show might have been the stupidest thing they’ve ever done…and every year, all I tried to do was make us all look good.”
Gill also thanked the “Grand Ole Opry family,” his “private family,” and his immediate family.
“My five children, Jenny and her husband, Josh, Matt and Olivia, Millie and Ben, Sarah and Jordan, and my youngest, Karina, and her boyfriend, Vance,” he said, adding, “She has a boyfriend. His name is Vance and he plays guitar.”
“But most of all, the woman I married has the kindest soul I’ve ever known,” he added of his wife, Amy Grant.
“So, Willie, if you’re 92 years old and listening outside, you’re still an inspiration to us. God bless you,” he concluded.
ABC
Before Gill was presented with the award, the country star was honored with a tribute performance of “When I Call Your Name” by Brandi Carlyle and Patti Loveless.
Over a career spanning several decades, Gil has released 20 albums, sold more than 30 million records, charted 45 singles, and performed with the Eagles, Pure Prairie League, Cherry Bombs, and Time Jumpers.
CMA named the country star “one of country music’s most accomplished and respected artists.”
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The Oklahoma native broke through as a solo artist in 1990 with the release of the hit single “When I Call Your Name.” The song won both the CMA Single Award and Song of the Year, as well as the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. In addition to numerous CMA Awards, Gil has received 21 Grammy Awards for singing, songwriting, production, and instrumental performance.
Gill holds the record for most Song of the Year awards, winning four times for “When I Call Your Name” (1991), “Look at Us” (1992), “I Still Believe in You” (1993) and “Go Rest High on That Mountain” (1996).
Additionally, Gill hosted the CMA Awards for a record-setting 12 consecutive years from 1992 to 2003.
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Gill’s Lifetime Achievement Award is one of many honors the CMA has bestowed over the years. He received the CMA Irving Waugh Excellence Award in 2014, the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award in 2017, and is a four-time recipient of the CMA Triple Play Award.
Gil was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2007, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
To celebrate his 50 years in the music industry, Gill has curated a series of EPs titled “50 Years from Home,” scheduled for release next year. The first in the series, I Give You Everything I Had, was released on October 17th.
Since the Lifetime Achievement Award was first introduced in 2012, it has honored country music legends including Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charlie Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021), Alan Jackson (2022), and George Strait. (2024).
“Vince represents the best of what country music stands for,” CMA CEO Sarah Trahern said in a statement. “He is a true pioneer, committed to his community, respectful of the genre’s roots, and continues to share his talents with fans around the world.”
She added, “As a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, 18-time CMA Award winner, and 12-time former host of the CMA Awards, he remains a vibrant force in our industry, and we are honored to celebrate an artist whose influence is deeply woven into the fabric of our format.”
The 59th CMA Awards will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 19th at 8pm ET on ABC and the following day on Hulu.
