He arrived early with his wife, Amy Grant, and a limousine-full of family including his mother, Jerene, who was celebrating her 82nd birthday.
"I'm proud to be a son of Oklahoma and proud of all the things that have gone on with the state for the centennial and getting to write that song (Oklahoma Rising) with Jimmy Webb,” Gill said. "I've carried that pride with me ever since I left in 1975 and it's never been very far away from me.”
The Gills mingled in the lobby of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum before the traditional Medallion Ceremony began. At the traditional Medallion Ceremony, members of the Hall of Fame gathered to honor Gill and fellow inductees Mel Tillis and Ralph Emery with musical salutes.
Gill is the third Oklahoman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame and currently serves as president of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Board of Officers and Trustees.
Johnny Bond of Enville became a member in 1999 and Floyd Tillman of Ryan was inducted in 1984.
During the invitation-only ceremony, Gill's contributions to country music were honored with a musical tribute by Al Anderson, Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Emmylou Harris and Michael McDonald. The performers were backed by John Hobbs and the 2007 Medallion All-Star Band.
In addition to the inductees and their families, Hall of Fame Members who attended the ceremony included Eddy Arnold, Harold Bradley, Little Jimmy Dickens, Phil Everly, Jim Foglesong, Sonny James, George Jones, the Jordanaires, Charlie Louvin and Jo Walker-Meador.
Gill will perform November 16 at the Oklahoma Centennial Spectacular along with other Oklahoma music stars including Reba McEntire, Carrie Underwood and The Flaming Lips.
"There's not going to be enough dressing rooms for that many egos,” he said jokingly. "It makes me proud to be an Okie. To look around and see what everyone's achieved. You find people from that part of the world, they have a lot of character. I'm always proud of how an Okie acts.”
Gill grew up in Norman, where his father encouraged him to learn to play the guitar and banjo, which he did along with the bass, mandolin, Dobro and fiddle. Throughout high school, Gill played in bluegrass bands and opened a concert for Pure Prairie League, the band he later joined as lead singer to record three albums.
Years later, Gill moved to Nashville to pursue his country music career. His debut album, "When I Call Your Name” featured the first of his many charting singles.
Throughout his career, Gill has sold more than 22 million albums, and earned 18 Country Music Association Awards and 18 Grammy Awards. He is nominated for this year's CMA Awards Album of the Year as well as Vocal Event of the Year for his duet with Alison Krauss, "The Reasons Why.” The CMA Awards will be televised on Nov. 7.
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We have attended many of Vince Gill's performances, and everyone of them is better than the last. He is truly an outstanding entertainer, and also a real down home kind of person.Congratulations on his latest achivement and looking forward to many more of his great performances!
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