Country Star Threatened Don Imus Over Remarks About Wife

Vince Gill confronted the late radio host after years of disparaging comments about his wife Amy Grant.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Country music star Vince Gill shared a story about confronting the late radio host Don Imus after Imus made repeated disparaging comments about Gill's wife, Amy Grant, on his morning show. Gill said he almost got into a physical altercation with Imus on air, but they were able to work things out and remained friends until Imus' passing in 2019.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the challenges celebrities can face when media figures make repeated negative comments about their personal lives, and how stars sometimes feel compelled to directly confront those criticisms, even on-air. It also shows how feuds between public figures can sometimes be resolved through open dialogue.

The details

Gill said that after he and Grant married in 2000, Imus "kind of turned on me and started running me down and ragging me on his show every morning." Imus would make comments like "I can't believe my favorite singer, Vince Gill, lost the Baby Jesus, married that Christian girl." Gill eventually booked an appearance on Imus' show to confront him, telling Imus he had "been hearing you say some pretty ugly things about my wife" and warning him "I'm going to crawl across this desk, and I'm going to kick your a--" if they couldn't work it out. Imus' "eyes got big" and they were able to have a "great visit" before Imus went on to praise Gill on his show.

  • Vince Gill and Amy Grant married in March 2000.
  • Imus made disparaging comments about Gill and Grant on his morning show for years after their marriage.

The players

Vince Gill

A country music star who confronted radio host Don Imus over his repeated negative comments about Gill's wife, Amy Grant.

Amy Grant

Vince Gill's wife, who was the target of disparaging comments made by radio host Don Imus.

Don Imus

A legendary radio host who made repeated negative comments about Vince Gill's wife, Amy Grant, on his morning show, leading to a confrontation with Gill.

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What they’re saying

“I said, 'I'm glad you brought Amy up.' I said, 'I've been hearing you say some pretty ugly things about my wife, and I'm just kind of curious why.' I said, 'You used to be a great supporter of mine' and this and that.”

— Vince Gill (Naked Lunch* podcast)

“I said, 'We're either going to talk this out, straighten this out,' I said, 'or I'm going to crawl across this desk, and I'm going to kick your a--.'”

— Vince Gill (Naked Lunch* podcast)

“I don't know why I was giving that guy so much crap. I love that guy.”

— Don Imus (Don Imus' radio show)

The takeaway

This incident underscores the challenges celebrities can face when media figures make repeated negative comments about their personal lives, and how stars sometimes feel compelled to directly confront those criticisms, even on-air. However, it also shows how feuds between public figures can sometimes be resolved through open dialogue and mutual understanding.