- Vince Gill occasionally plays a short voicemail from Merle Haggard during live shows.
- The two first met in 1981 after Gill joined Emmylou Harris’ backing band.
- Haggard called Gill late one night to thank him and say he loved him; Gill still treasures the message.
- Gill has spoken about their friendship at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Young musician meets his hero
Vince Gill was a rising player on the road with Emmylou Harris when a 1981 chance meeting changed his life. The then-young guitarist and singer accepted an introduction to Merle Haggard at a nearby honky-tonk. Instead of disappointment, Gill found a warm connection with a man he called the “pinnacle” of country music.
A friendship that became music
That first meeting grew into a decades-long friendship and several musical collaborations. Gill and Haggard worked together on songs and sessions over the years. Their relationship stayed close enough that Gill planned to call Haggard the day the elder star died in April 2016 — a phone call that unfortunately never happened.
The voicemail Gill still plays
What Gill did receive, though, was a voicemail that he describes as a priceless keepsake. He recalled how Haggard called him late one night, left a short message thanking him for working on recent sessions and telling Gill that he loved him. The simple, heartfelt message has stayed with Gill.
“He called me really late one night,” Gill said while speaking at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. “I’d already gone to bed. I woke up and the next morning I saw a voicemail from Merle Haggard. It was short, but it meant the world.”
Sharing the moment with fans
Vince Gill sometimes brings that private moment into the public eye during concerts. He tells the story from the stage and plays Haggard’s voicemail into the microphone, explaining it as a small, honest token of friendship rather than name-dropping. Audiences have reacted warmly to the gesture — a rare, emotional glimpse into the bond between two country music icons.
Watch Gill’s Hall of Fame talk
You can see Gill speak about that night and his relationship with Haggard in his appearance at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Watch the clip here:
Why it matters
The voicemail is more than nostalgia: it’s a reminder of mentorship, mutual respect and the human side of musicianship. Vince Gill continues to honor Merle Haggard’s influence by sharing that small, meaningful moment whenever he wants to celebrate their friendship on stage.
Image Referance: https://americansongwriter.com/vince-gill-reveals-the-sweet-token-of-friendship-from-merle-haggard-hell-sometimes-share-on-stage/
