Amy Grant says her husband Vince Gill, known widely for his easygoing nature, has a sharper side reserved for anyone who crosses her — and she’s grateful for it.
In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the 65-year-old singer described Gill as “kind, kind, kind,” but said he won’t hesitate to defend her when necessary.
“He does have a toggle switch, and if somebody does something to throw that switch, he can respond so quickly. And so he can see the field, and he’s got a quick mind. And he is not afraid to put somebody in their place or be protective. And so, yeah, I mean, I feel so loved by him.”
Grant’s comments follow a story Gill told in March on the “Naked Lunch” podcast about confronting radio host Don Imus on air. Gill said Imus had once been a fan of his but turned sour after he married Grant, making remarks like “Vince Gill, lost the Baby Jesus, married that Christian girl.” Gill said he waited for his moment during an appearance on Imus’ show to set things straight.
“I said, ‘Well, if you ever met her, you’d never say an unkind word about her. I’m going to shoot you straight.’ I said, ‘I really only came on this show for one reason.’ I said, ‘We’re either going to talk this out, straighten this out,’ I said, ‘or I’m going to crawl across this desk, and I’m going to kick your a–.'”
Gill said that on the drive home, he heard Imus on the radio saying, “I don’t know why I was giving that guy so much crap. I love that guy.” The two remained friends until Imus died in December 2019.
Grant also described how Gill supported her through major health scares, including unexpected open-heart surgery in 2020 and a bike accident in 2022 that damaged her short-term memory.
“My short-term memory was shot. There’s so much I couldn’t remember. I was processing so slow and I just remember saying to him, ‘What if this is all I ever had? What if this is as good as it gets?’ And he said, ‘Amy, anything could happen to any of us. An accomplished musician could have a stroke and never use their left hand again.’ And he said, ‘We’re just going to take each day and it’s enough.'”
Grant said that sense of steadiness — the promise to stay together no matter what — has defined their relationship, “whether spoken or not.” She recalled telling Gill she felt deeply understood by him, and that he responded by saying he doesn’t always understand her but welcomes whatever she brings.
“I was trying to be like, ‘You know me, you get it.’ He was just going, ‘I don’t know if I can say that, but I’m here and my arms are wide open,’ and that’s how he’s always done. We’ve just discovered each other day by day over 26 years and I love him more now. The more I know him, the more I love him.”
Gill and Grant married in March 2000 and welcomed their daughter, Corrina, in March 2001. The two met in 1993 while each was married to someone else, and confirmed they were dating in October 1999. Gill divorced his first wife in 1997; Grant separated from her first husband in 1998.
Grant also spoke about performing a tribute to Dolly Parton at the Dove Awards alongside Christian singer Natalie Grant. She said she was nervous about taking on one of Parton’s songs, noting “her stuff is tough” and tends to fit Parton’s voice specifically.
“All I’m saying is we all bring our unique gifts to the table, but I would not have had the opportunity to honor Dolly in song had Natalie not asked me. And, afterward, she and I just had a big hug and said, ‘What a one time to sing. What a chance to share that we’re honoring this icon.’ So, it was so meaningful to both of us.”
