At 68, Vince Gill Reveals the Seven Artists He Resented Most — And Why It Shook the Country Music World
After decades of being one of the most respected voices in country music, Vince Gill, now 68, is finally pulling back the curtain on a side of himself fans rarely see. Known for his gentle demeanor, heartfelt lyrics, and unwavering commitment to craft, Gill has long kept his personal opinions about the changing face of country music to himself — until now.
In a recent interview, Gill broke his silence and named seven artists whose rise, influence, or approach to music he found deeply troubling. These weren’t petty rivalries — they were, in his words, moments when “the soul of country music got lost.”
1. Kris Kristofferson – The Rebel vs. The Perfectionist
Gill admired Kristofferson’s poetry but was never able to get past what he saw as a lack of technical skill and vocal polish. While the world praised Kristofferson’s raw authenticity, Gill reportedly felt it was “sloppy, not deep,” and resented how critics romanticized his messiness while ignoring more disciplined artists.
2. Garth Brooks – When Country Turned to Spectacle
Gill and Brooks may have both shaped modern country, but their philosophies couldn’t be more different. Gill favored restraint and nuance, while Brooks brought pyrotechnics, headset mics, and arena-sized energy. To Gill, it wasn’t just a style clash — it was the moment country music started prioritizing flash over substance.
3. Billy Ray Cyrus – Pop Culture Over Poetry
Gill was never a fan of Achy Breaky Heart, once allegedly calling it “karaoke with a mullet.” He saw Cyrus’s success as the beginning of a trend where image and marketability replaced depth and songwriting. For Gill, it wasn’t personal — it was what Billy Ray represented that stung the most.
4. Shania Twain – The Genre-Bender Who Crossed the Line
Twain’s pop-country crossover revolutionized the genre — but to Gill, it blurred the lines too far. He never publicly criticized her, but insiders noticed the silence: no duets, no joint performances, no tributes. To Gill, Twain’s rise marked a tipping point where country lost its grounding.
5. Jason Aldean – The Rise of Bro-Country
Aldean’s loud, high-energy brand of country didn’t sit well with Gill, who once said, “We’ve dumbed it down.” Gill criticized the focus on lifestyle over lived experience, trucks and tailgates over storytelling. Though they shared festival lineups, they never shared a stage — and likely never will.
6. Kanye West – The Ego Vince Couldn’t Ignore
Though not a country artist, Kanye West became a symbol for everything Gill believed was wrong with modern music: ego, spectacle, self-worship. Gill never named him directly, but a 2016 quote about young artists “demanding the world bow” came just days after Kanye’s infamous “I am the greatest artist of all time” rant.
7. Unspoken Names — But the Message Is Clear
Gill may have only explicitly confirmed a few names, but the themes are consistent: a rejection of artists who chase fame over substance, who treat music as marketing rather than storytelling. To Gill, country music is sacred — a place for honesty, struggle, and soul — not flash, filters, or gimmicks.