Vince Gill was already a country music superstar when the Eagles invited him to join the group. Gill debuted with the legendary group in 2017, filling the space left vacant when founding member Glenn Frey passed away.
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With so many songs in his own catalog, it would seem logical that the Eagles would occasionally pull out one of his many hits. But according to Gill, it's always been his choice not to play any of his songs.
Gill made the decision early on, when Don Henley overheard Gill singing "Whenever You Come Around." Henley suggested they work up an arrangement they could do together on stage. It was a kind invitation, one Gill immediately declined.
"I said, 'Well, with all due respect, I'd rather not,'" Gill recalls to American Songwriter. "Don looked at me, puzzled. He said, 'Why?' I said, 'Look, what I'm getting ready to do, this is going to be pretty uncomfortable for a lot of people, me included.' I said, 'I don't want to give them one more reason not to be happy that I'm out there.' I don't want them to sit in those seats saying, 'I didn't come here to hear Vince Gill songs. I came here to hear Eagle songs.'"
"Whenever You Come Around"
If Gill did decide to do any of his songs with the Eagles, "Whenever You Come Around" would be a solid choice. Gill wrote the song about his now-wife, Amy Grant, when they were still married to other people. The two first met when they were both rehearsing for his TV special, Christmas with Vince Gill.
"I just remember the smile. That's all I can remember... It was a staggering smile that stopped me," he recalls.
Later, in a writing session with Pete Wasner, Gill remembered Grant, and the impact she had on him.
"'Let's write a song about Amy Grant's smile,'" Gill remembers saying. "He said, 'Do you even know her?' I said, 'Not very well, but she's sure got a great smile.'"
In addition to Gill, Frey's son Deacon is also now part of the Eagles. The group is spending the next few months performing at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
