“You’ll Wind up Spinning Your Wheels”: Why Vince Gill Says There’s “No Rules” To Writing a Hit Song

Vince Gill has truly set the golden standard for songwriting in Nashville. From hard-partying romps (“One More Last Chance”) to tales of all-consuming grief (“Go Rest High on That Mountain”), the man can’t miss. Unfortunately, if you’re seeking a formula for hit country songs, Gill can’t help you. The Oklahoma native, 67, says there’s no rulebook.

“You Have To Make Time For It:” Vince Gill on The Making of a Hit

Vince Gill was just 19 when he joined the soft rock band Pure Prairie League as the new lead vocalist. He stayed for three albums, penning about half of the songs in total.

“I wound up getting five songs on the first album I did with them. That shocked me,” Gill previously told American Songwriter. “I had only been writing for about a year, and didn’t write a lot back then, but that inspired me to write a lot more. And getting to know Rodney (Crowell) and some of those guys, it became apparent that was a pretty neat part of being musical.”

What’s the secret? Does Gill set aside time to write whatever words make their way into his brain? Or does he wait until inspiration strikes? The answer is, frustratingly, neither.

[RELATED: 4 Songs You Didn’t Know Vince Gill Wrote With Wife Amy Grant]

“You have to make time for it, but you have to have a good idea to sit around and work with or you’ll wind up spinning your wheels,” said the 22-time GRAMMY Award winner. “On the other hand, you can sit down with a great idea and still not have enough on the ball to get it done. There are no rules.”

“The Nicest Guy in Nashville” Has No Idea What a DM Is

Vince Gill has been one of the most prolific songwriters in Nashville for several decades. However, his pen-and-paper method apparently remains unchanged. The “Next Big Thing” singer revealed in a past interview with The Bobby Bones Show that he has never sent a text message.

“Do you ever check your DMs on Instagram?” Bones asked the award-winning country artist.

“What’s a DM?” Gill replied.

Bones chuckled, but Gill insisted he was serious. “I’ve never sent a text,” he said. “I’m not of that social media mindset… I didn’t like typing in school.”

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