Vince Gill Earns 'Street Cred' in Company of Winehouse

By his own admission, Vince Gill is an old hand at the Grammys, with frequent nominations and multiple wins in the country categories. But the singer, who was in L.A. for the nomination announcements, tells Spinner that his Album of the Year for 'These Days' is a novelty.

"Today was uncharted water for me -- in the company of the Foo Fighters, Kanye [West], Amy [Winehouse] and Herbie [Hancock]," he says. "That's a powerful statement to the diversity of music. It's not just five big pop records that are nominated. It really represents a wide range of music."'

While as a musician it's exciting for him to be nominated with the likes of jazz legend Herbie Hancock, the Foos and Kanye West, as the father of five, he gets the most points for being in the same category as Amy Winehouse. "Amy and I did the 'Oprah' show a couple of weeks ago and all the kids wanted to go," he says. "Most of the time they could give a rip about anything we're doing. But I think it'll be a big thrill for them," he says, adding the nomination gives him "street cred."

Besides getting his nod for Album of the Year, Gill had a couple of other high points Thursday morning. "I met Jimmy Jam today," he says. "It meant a lot to me he knew that record I made." He also was happy for fellow nominee and Nashville resident Taylor Swift. "I know Taylor from home and it's fun to see her exuberance," he said, referring to Swift's instantly memorable moment of hugging the Foo Fighters when they announced her name in the Best New Artist category. "It's like the the high school kids at my house. It's great."