Vince Gill Accepts the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Honor at the CMA Awards

Vince Gill received the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award during the CMA Awards on Nov. 19. Preceding Gill’s acceptance of the honor, a musical tribute took the stage, featuring Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless covering Gill’s hit song“When I Call Your Name.”

After the performance, country legend George Strait took the stage to present Gill with the award. He said of the 22-time Grammy winner, “There is not a more deserving person to receive this honor, which bears the name of the true Icon himself, Mr. Willie Nelson.”

Gill kept it light with his acceptance speech, opening with a joke before gushing about the award’s history. He told the audience, “It’s not lost on me that we had to have girls come out here and sing for me tonight. None of the boys can get up that high.” He added. “This is amazing. In the history of this award, I think it’s been given to maybe ten people, nine or ten, something like that. And that list of people is astounding.”

After sharing a message of love and gratitude to his management and family, Gill gave a final shoutout to the award’s namesake: “Willie, if you’re out there listening, 92 years old, you’re still inspiring us to this day. God bless.”

Born in Oklahoma, Gill began his career as a session player and solo act, working on David Grisman’s 1983 album “Here Today” and releasing his debut EP the following year. In 1990, he had his first hit single with “When I Call Your Name.” Two years later, he released the quadruple platinum album “I Still Believe in You,” which solidified him as a major star and leading figure in country music.

Today, Gill has released 20 albums, selling over 30 million records and charting 45 singles. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2007 and has previously earned 18 CMA Awards as well as 22 Grammys.

His history with the CMA runs deep. In addition to receiving 18 awards and now the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, he also hosted the show every year from 1992 to 2003 and has become a part of the ceremony’s iconography.

Gill continues to play and create, performing with the Eagles at the intermittent Sphere concerts in Las Vegas. He also continues his solo career, having just recently reupped his deal with MCA Records and relased the EP “I Gave You Everything I Had” in October.

The 59th annual CMA Awards took place at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena in Tennessee and were broadcast live on ABC. The event was hosted by Lainey Wilson.