Vince Gill  joined the Eagles last month for his first rehearsal with the storied band, ahead of the group’s two reunion shows at July festival gigs in New York and L.A.,

On July 15th at L.A.’s Dodger Stadium, Eagles members Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmit and Joe Walsh will reunite for their first full show since Glenn Frey’s death in 2016, for the Classic West concert, an all-star weekend of classic rock featuring icons like Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan and Journey. Gill and Frey’s son Deacon have been tapped to step in for the late co-founder, both of them adding vocals and guitar to the Eagles’ already potent lineup. (They’ll do it all again on July 29th at Citi Field in New York.)

Rolling Stone Country talked with Gill about which Eagles songs he’ll sing, and how the band has “been as big a part” his “learning curve as the greats of the country and Western world.”

Gill explains:  “We all talk about our history in country music and we respect Merle Haggard and George Jones. And I mean no disrespect when I say this, but the Eagles had a bigger impact in that more people chose to emulate them. You take any of the bands from the Eighties, Nineties or even solo artists, and you don’t find many of them emulating George Jones or Merle Haggard. I find it interesting in that country music never embraced the Eagles, yet they had as profound an impact as anybody that’s ever been in country music.”

When asked what songs he will be singing in the set, Vince replies:  “Lyin’ Eyes,” “New Kid in Town,” “Take It to the Limit” and “Heartache Tonight.”

Filed under: CKAT, Classic East, Classic West, The Eagles, Vince Gill