Vince Gill’s been on the country music scene as a solo artist for nearly half a century, and he’s still widely considered to be one of the greatest voices in the genre.
Which is exactly why putting your own spin on one of the Country Music Hall of Famer’s hits is such a risky task. In my eyes, covering a Vince Gill song is right up there with singing the National Anthem; if you’re going to attempt it, you better be able to deliver a stellar rendition.
You’ve gotta have some serious vocal chops to live up to a voice as silky smooth as Gill’s. Apparently, though, we’ve found just the man for the job: one of country’s most beloved rising stars, Zach Top.
Crafting his skills from a very young age alongside his family’s bluegrass band, the Washington native first started to really get momentum in his career after posting covers to his Facebook profile. With a bare, mustacheless face and those same stunning vocals, looking back at the early gems of Top’s budding career, you just can’t help but deny that he always had the star potential.
Especially given the fact that the fresh 24-year-old decided to take a swing at this 1992 Vince Gill hit with the help of just his living room acoustics and his guitar. In the clip he first posted to social media back in June 2021, the “I Never Lie” singer took a jab at Gill’s “Tryin’ To Get Over You.”
Hitting all the high notes to the same perfection, Top’s rendition of Gill’s fifth single from his I Still Believe In You album is truly addictive. As Top continues to grace fans with highly requested covers at his shows on the 2026 Cold Beer & Country Music tour, I think this is one track he needs to revisit.
Personally, the song choice is what I love to hear from the now 28-year-old who just knows how to deliver a d*mn good sad country ballad. In my opinion, some of his best work comes from those ’90s-reminiscent heartache slow songs, like the highly popular “Use Me” and the more recent “South of Sanity.” And yes, I know the latter has racked up more than 67 million streams on Spotify alone, but I still believe it’s highly underrated.
Luckily for those who agree, Top gave a glimpse into his next era with the first two singles of his upcoming album, released today, Friday, August 21, including the honky tonk heater “Good Girls & Cowgirls” and steel-guitar-soaked heart-string tugger “Other Side Of Hurtin'” which deserves your attention as soon as you finish up his Gill cover.
Check out both below: