Vince Gill and Amy Grant have some advice on how to have a long and happy marriage like theirs.
“A lot of kindness,” the Eagles member, 67, exclusively told Us Weekly of what makes a strong relationship while on the red carpet for the Grand Ole Opry 100 Year Celebration on Wednesday, March 19. “You know, a lot of kindness back and forth to each other kind of solves all the problems.”
Grant, for her part, echoed similar sentiments.
“For every human you have to wrap your arms around your own life. Learn to be respectful with yourself, be kind to yourself, and then you have the capacity to be that way with other people,” the Christian singer, 64, told Us. “Regardless of what your career is, but you’ve got to, you gotta connect in here first, and then you can love somebody.”
‘Opry 100: A Live Celebration’ Red Carpet Arrivals: Carrie Underwood, More
Gill and Grant found a second chance at love when they tied the knot in March 2000. The rock musician was previously married to Sweethearts of the Rodeo singer Janis Oliver from 1980 to 1997. In 1999, Grant filed for divorce from her first husband, Gary Chapman.
Since they walked down the aisle, Gill and Grant have been by each other’s sides through thick and thin. In 2020, Grant underwent open-heart surgery to repair a congenital heart condition. Two years after recovering from the procedure, Grant got into a bicycle accident and was hospitalized for a brain injury. When Grant was at a low point, she could count on Gill to help her get back on her feet.
After I had a bike accident with a head injury, I was like, ‘What if I can’t? What if I’m never like I was? And Vince just said, ‘Amy, in a day life could change for anybody,’” she recalled. “He said, ‘Somebody that’s a great musician could have a stroke and not be able to use their hands … we just have to, you gotta live life with your knees flexed and whatever you wake up with, that’s what you got.’ And I was just glad for a partner who said, well, just take today as it comes.”
Gill acknowledged that he also battled “some health issues” in the past few years. While he’s “good to go now,” Gill is just grateful to have as much time as he can with Grant.
“The last five years have been such a gift. Because anything that is ever questioned, suddenly you see the value of it,” he explained. “You know, it’s like getting sick and all of a sudden going, I love being alive.”
With reporting by Aria Parker
