It’s been nearly three years since country music legend Vince Gill last made a tour stop in his home state of Oklahoma, but odds are his return this week will be worth the wait for his fans.

Earlier this month, fresh off a lengthy Las Vegas residency with The Eagles, Gill embarked on a U.S. tour that includes two shows at casinos in the state he left five decades ago to pursue his dreams of bringing music to the masses.

“I left home 50 years ago to try and become an accomplished musician and perform in front of whoever would show up. All these years later, it feels as special today as it ever did,” the Norman native said in a February tour announcement.

Throughout his career he has released 20 albums, sold over 30 million albums, and charted 45 singles. A gifted songwriter, Gill’s compositions earned him the prestigious BMI Icon award in 2014, and entry into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.

This Thursday, May 29, Gill’s bus will roll into Tulsa for a performance at the River Spirit Casino. Mere hours later, he’ll head toward the Red River for a Friday night gig at the Winstar Casino in Thackerville.

Gill will be joined on stage by a stellar cast of musicians that further complement his own guitar and vocal virtuosity. The eight-piece band features Jim “Moose” Brown (keyboards), Tom Bukovac (guitar), Eddie Dunlap (steel guitar), Jedd Hughes (guitar, vocals), John Jarvis (keyboards), Wendy Moten (vocals), Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass), Billy Thomas (drums), and Jeff White (guitar, vocals).

The Tulsa show is sold out, but at press time tickets remained available for Friday’s concert in Thackerville. Ticket information is available at www.vincegill. com.