Vince Gill was happy to honor pal George Strait at the Kennedy Center Honors — but that doesn’t mean he’s necessarily a fan of President Donald Trump.
Gill, 68, confessed during the March 18 episode of the “Nashville Now” podcast that he had to “think about saying yes” to the invitation to perform at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors after Trump, 79, took office and made himself the chairman of the center, unceremoniously rebranding the iconic institution to the “Trump Kennedy Center.”
The country singer explained that singing in celebration of Strait, 73, however, was a no-brainer.
“Yeah, that was a hard yes,” Gill told Rolling Stone senior music editor and podcast host Joseph Hudak of honoring Strait when he received an award at the annual ceremony. “But George has been my friend for 43 years, and I did it for George.”
Donald Trump Attacks Jimmy Kimmel Again While Hosting Kennedy Center Honors
As Hudak and Gill continued to discuss the event, the musician hinted that his feelings toward Trump aren’t what one would consider positive.
Gill didn’t use the president’s name, but he revealed, “I don’t have very much respect” for the individual Hudak described as one driven by “narcissism.” The Grammy winner noted, however, that he isn’t “a political guy.”
“I’m not going to run somebody down, and it’s not my way to do that,” Gill explained. “I met the man twice and was completely uninspired, you know? And I just can’t fathom treating people that way on any level.”
The “When I Call Your Name” singer said, “I’m a conservative guy on a lot of issues. I’m a liberal guy on a lot of issues. I don’t think I sit one way.”
He noted, “You can call me woke. You can call me a bible thumper. You can call me all those things. And I think a lot of them are true. But I don’t you just have to sit in one lane and only be in that lane. I think every issue has pros and cons.”
Gill shared that he chose to sing for Strait at the Kennedy Center Honors because of their friendship — but who was in office wasn’t something he cared to fully weigh in on.
“I’m not gonna try to make a point. I’m not going to try and encourage anyone else to think like I do,” Gill said. “I want people to be kind to each other. … Kindness would cure it all.”
Donald Trump Slams George Clooney After Actor Details Past Friendship
Us Weekly has reached out to the White House for comment.
While Gill attempted to stay as neutral as possible about his political affiliations, not every celebrity has kept their feelings about Trump as quiet.
Maren Morris, for example, slammed Trump supporters earlier this month after the United States went to war with Iraq.
“I don’t have forgiveness for the triple Trumpers or any of the Trumpers,” Morris, 35, said in a March 6 TikTok video. “You did vote for this. He is a dementia ridden, diaper clad, cornball, ex TV host … you voted for this and you got bamboozled.”
She added, “This is literally the result of ploying and voting for losers.”
