More on Vince and the Grammys

Vince Gill won his 19th Grammy in February, with his four-disc collection of original songs “These Days” taking home country album of the year.

The album also was nominated in the genre-crossing album of the year category; it was the first time Gill was nominated in one of the all-encompassing Grammy categories.

I talked to Gill about his experiences at the Grammys in a recent phone interview. He said the country album win was gratifying. He said he was disappointed that the album didn’t win the best album title at last fall’s CMA Awards, losing out to George Strait’s “It Just Comes Natural.”

“It kind of capped it off in a really pretty great way ‘cause the people who are Grammy voters … it’s a little more all encompassing than just the world of country music. It means a lot,” he said.

He said he admires the Grammys “music first and popularity second” mindset.

When I asked him where he keeps all his golden gramaphones – he has the most of any male country artist – he had a funny reply ready.

“I’ve got them nailed to the hood of my car,” he joked with a laugh. “No, (they’re) just around the house here and there. They’re all put away right now because I’m building a studio at the house and everything’s in boxes.”

Most importantly, he gave more insight into his line of the night at the Grammys. When Gill accepted the country album of the year prize from Ringo Starr, he said: “I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?” The line was repeatedly with a kind of shocked relish in People magazine,  on MTV’s Web site and in many other media outlets.

Gill said it was amazing to get an award from the Beatles drummer, and he used the opportunity to gently take the wind out of the sails of rapper Kanye West, who is often outspoken when he thinks he deserves an award.