When Vince Gill stepped into his first rehearsal with the Eagles, it wasn’t just another musical milestone — it was a pinch-me moment. Sitting in his Nashville home studio, surrounded by guitars and the glow of 21 Grammy Awards, Gill reflects on that day with deep humility. “It was surreal,” he says. “Don’s there, Timothy’s there, and I’m singing these songs I’ve loved forever. It felt like such a gift.”
Gill recently joined the Eagles for two highly anticipated reunion shows — part of July’s Classic West and Classic East festivals in Los Angeles and New York. These marked the band’s first full performances since the passing of founding member Glenn Frey in 2016. Alongside Frey’s son Deacon, Vince has been tapped to carry on the legacy, lending his vocals and guitar skills to help fill an irreplaceable void.
The idea came together quietly behind the scenes. “It all happened through management,” Vince explains. “Irving Azoff [the Eagles’ longtime manager] reached out to my manager to see if I’d be interested. From what Don [Henley] told me, I was the only person they considered. I was floored. I didn’t think they’d ever play again.”
Gill admits the moment is filled with both honor and heartache. “After Glenn passed, Don said he couldn’t imagine doing it without him,” he says. “But over time, I think they realized just how powerful and important these songs are to so many people. It’s a bittersweet thing. The only reason I’m even in this position is because of a great loss.”
Though Vince had known Glenn for years, his bond with Don Henley grew deeper after collaborating on Henley’s solo project, Cass County. “I played and sang on that record, and now we’re doing a duet for an Elton John tribute,” Gill says. “Joe [Walsh] and I also tossed around the idea of doing something like a Traveling Wilburys-style group before Glenn passed. We were starting to explore it. Then everything changed.”
Now, Vince Gill is helping the Eagles honor their legacy — not by replacing anyone, but by preserving the music. “We’re all still figuring it out,” he says. “But when we step on that stage and play those songs, you can feel how much they still matter. That’s what makes it all worth it.”
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