Vince Gill Jokes He’s the Only Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Winner to Never Have Smoked Weed at the 2025 CMA Awards

Vince Gill has earned his flowers.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, Gill, 68, took home the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 59th Annual Country Music Association Awards. After he was presented with the award by last year’s winner George Strait, Gill reflected on the honor.

“This is amazing… And I’m pretty confident I’m the only one that’s ever won this award that’s never smoked any weed,” Gill joked. “But the man that is on this is a long, long friend — 50 years we’ve known each other.”

He continued of Nelson, “I adore him but [what] I admire most about him is his willingness to include his family.”

Then, Gill went on to thank his “CMA family” for inviting him to host the awards show 12 times: “It might’ve been the dumbest thing they ever did, trusting my ass with their show… And every year, all I tried to do was make us all look good.”

Gill also thanked this “Grand Ole Opry family,” his “personal management family” and his immediate family.

“My five kids, Jenny and her husband, Josh, Matt and Olivia, Millie and Ben, Sarah and Jordan and our youngest Karina, her boyfriend, Vance,” he said, before adding, “she’s got a boyfriend, his name’s Vance, and he plays guitar.”

“But more than anything, the woman I’m married to is the kindest soul I’ve ever known,” he added of wife Amy Grant.

He concluded, “So, Willie, if you’re out there listening, 92 years old, you’re still inspiring us to this day. God bless.”

Before Gill’s award was presented, the country star was honored with a tribute performance of “When I Call Your Name” by Brandi Carlile and Patty Loveless.

Throughout his decades-long career, Gill has released 20 albums, sold more than 30 million records, charted 45 singles and played with The Eagles, Pure Prairie League, The Cherry Bombs and The Time Jumpers. 

The CMA has named the country star as “one of the most accomplished and respected artists in country music.” 

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The Oklahoma-native made his solo breakthrough in 1990 when he released his hit single “When I Call Your Name.” The song went on to win both CMA Single and Song of the Year awards, along with a Grammy for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Along with numerous CMA awards, Gill has received 21 Grammys for singing, songwriting, producing and instrumental performances. 

Gill holds the record for the most wins for Song of the Year, receiving four for “When I Call Your Name” (1991), “Look at Us” (1992), “I Still Believe in You” (1993) and “Go Rest High on That Mountain” (1996). 

In addition, Gill has hosted the CMA Awards for a record-setting 12 consecutive years from 1992 through 2003. 

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Gill’s Lifetime Achievement Award is one of many honors from the CMAs over the years. He has received the CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence in 2014, the CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award in 2017 and is a four-time CMA Triple Play Award recipient. 

Gill was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2007, Gill was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. 

To celebrate his 50 years in the music industry, Gill curated a series of EPs titled 50 Years from Home to be released over the next year. The first of the series, I Gave You Everything I Had, was released Oct. 17. 

Since the Lifetime Achievement Award was first introduced in 2012, it has honored several country music legends, including Kenny Rogers (2013), Johnny Cash (2015), Dolly Parton (2016), Kris Kristofferson (2019), Charley Pride (2020), Loretta Lynn (2021), Alan Jackson (2022) and George Strait (2024). 

“Vince embodies the very best of what Country Music stands for,” Sarah Trahern, CMA’s chief executive officer, said in a statement. “He’s a true trailblazer, one who gives back to the community, honors the roots of your genre, and even now, continues to share his talent with fans across the globe.” 

She added, “As a Country Music Hall of Fame member, 18-time CMA Award winner, and former 12-time CMA Awards host, he remains a vibrant force in our industry, and we’re honored to celebrate an artist whose influence is so deeply woven into the fabric of our format.”

The 59th Annual CMA Awards broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and the next day on Hulu.