Few artists were as hot as Vince Gill in the '90s. The Oklahoma native had a string of hit singles, including "Liza Jane," "One More Last Chance," "I Still Believe in You," and more, enough that Gill could have easily been leading a superstar life.
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In reality, that couldn't have been farther from the truth. Gill still thought of himself as a regular guy, something that is evident in his pre-show routine.
"A lot of Nintendo," Gill says in a 1994 interview with the Los Angeles Times.
Playing Nintendo is just one of the many ways the Grand Ole Opry member proves he never considered himself anything but a regular guy. Gill knew then - and still knows now - that his talent was enough for him to succeed.
"I thought I was pretty good; I felt like I belonged. I knew I could play and I knew I could sing," he says, adding that he doesn't mean that "egotistically." "My ears tell me that, that I have some talent. And I love it. I mean music is the greatest thing in my life."
Why Vince Gill Has Never Been Concerned About His Looks
In the '90s, the image of a country music artist seemed to matter almost as much as their music, at least to everyone but Vince Gill.
"I don't cowboy up too much," Gill tells The Daily Telegraph. "Some of the new guys look as if they've never worn a hat before, others have been wearing them all their lives. The hats help people who like pigeonholes, who feel uncomfortable if they don't know what a thing is supposed to be. But you can't see your face when you wear a hat.
"As a guitar player, I don't like it when music gets too concerned with image," the "Go Rest High On That Mountain" singer says. "I don't care if the suit isn't great or the singer's overweight, as long as he's singing his heart out.''
More than 30 years later, the words Gill spoke then still ring true.
"I've always been even-keeled, content," Gill says. "My happiness isn't a question of where my record's sitting in the charts.''
"There's a totally different human being who comes out when I'm playing or recording," Gill adds. "Once I start singing. I put every bit of heart into it.''
