Sheryl Crow introduced the show, welcoming the invitation-only crowd by recalling that Gill had been the first person to call her when she got to Nashville. Brad Paisley opened the show by performing Gill’s 1991 hit “Liza Jane,” and Gill’s fellow Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood sang his Grammy-winning 1995 release “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” backed by a choir of Belmont students.

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Chris Stapleton offered a reading of “Whenever You Come Around” and Gill’s band member and recent finalist on The Voice, Wendy Moten, received the first standing ovation of the evening with “I Still Believe In You.” Others interpreting Gill’s catalog and offering warm wishes to one of the best-loved pillars of the Nashville community included Maren Morris, with “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away,” and Luke Combs, who sang “Pretty Little Adriana.” He observed that a concert by the honoree had been his first as a music fan, and the full-circle moment that saw Gill induct him into the Grand Ole Opry.

Sting, who had earlier introduced Stapleton, performed “These Days,” ten years after he and Gill worked together on their acclaimed CMT Crossroads collaboration. Cody Johnson reprised the song he performed at the Grand Ole Opry recently, Gill’s career-elevating “When I Call Your Name.” Another longtime friend of the star, Ricky Skaggs, was with his band Kentucky Thunder to put a bluegrass spin on “One More Last Chance.”