Vince Gill Once Told A Radio Host He’d “Kick His A**” After He Insulted Amy Grant

Vince Gill Almost Goes To Blows In Defense Of His Wife Amy Grant

Country music legend Vince Gill has a reputation as the “nicest guy in Nashville,” but when it comes to defending his wife, he does not mess around. During a recent appearance on the Naked Lunch podcast, Gill recounted the story behind his infamous feud with radio personality Don Imus in the early 2000s.

The “Go Rest High On That Mountain” singer explained that he and Imus had been “really good friends” for many years, but when he married Amy Grant in 2000, things “flipped.” Gill recalls:

“He kinda turned on me and started running me down, ragging me on his show every morning. He said, ‘I can’t believe my favorite singer, Vince Gill, lost to baby Jesus, married that Christian girl.'”

Imus seemingly had an issue with Grant’s Christian faith. The vocalist is one of the leading female artists in Christian music, with more than 30 million albums sold worldwide.

Vince Gill Confronts Don Imus Live On The Air

Around the time he released his 2000 album, Let’s Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye, Gill decided that the daily insults from the radio host were enough. Under the guise of promoting the new album, Gill booked an appearance on the Imus Show, a move which his publicists called crazy.

Inevitably, Grant’s name came up while the men were conversing on the air. Gill questioned Imus:

“I’ve been hearing you say some pretty ugly things about my wife, and I just kind of curious why.” He added, “You used to be a great supporter of mine…”

Gill got Imus to admit that he had never actually met his bride, and asserted that anyone who had would “never say an unkind word about her.” He then gave the host a stern warning:

“I’m going to shoot you straight. I really only came on this show for one reason. We’re either going to talk this out, straighten this out, or I’m going to crawl across this desk and I’m going to kick your ass.” 

RELATED: VINCE GILL AND AMY GRANT’S SECRET TO MAKING THEIR MARRIAGE WORK

Don Imus Reacts To Vince Gill’s Threat

Now, more than 20 years later, Vince Gill tells the story of the tense interaction as no more than a funny anecdote. He recounts how Imus was taken aback by his threat.

“His eyes got big, and he goes, ‘Well, let’s figure this thing out. Let’s let’s talk it out.’ I said, ‘Good choice, Don.'” 

From that point on, the men had what Gill describes as a “great visit” and remained friends until Imus’ passing in 2019. Imus later conceded:

“I don’t know why I was giving that guy so much crap. I love that guy.“

Hear Vince Gill tell the story of the time he confronted radio host Don Imus over comments made about Amy Grant in the video below!