Gretchen Wilson made headlines as a country star when her debut single “Redneck Woman” reached the top of the country singles chart. She was the first country artist to do that in years, and her single was the quickest to reach No. 1 in decades. Wilson’s country twang, sassy attitude and deep, soulful vocals draw fans to her concerts and tours, and the honesty in songs like “Redneck Woman” are her ticket to superstardom. Wilson’s most recent release, on her own record label (Redneck), is Christmas in My Heart – the last of three released in 2013, which include Right on Time and Under the Covers as the first two.
Wilson had a rough upbringing in rural Illinois, but she credits her girlhood with instilling in her the tough and strong attitude that makes her so popular with fans. At the age of 15, Wilson was discovered singing in bars and joined her first band, Sam-A-Lama. While “Redneck Woman” shot to the top of the charts and also earned her a 2004 Grammy Award, Wilson has released other successful tunes, like 2004’s “Here for the Party,” which reached the No. 3 spot on the Country Singles chart and the No. 39 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and 2005’s “Homewrecker,” which reached No. 2 on the Country Singles chart and No. 42 on the Billboard Hot 100. Wilson has come into her own as the head of her own label, and with the three new records she put out in 2013, she has proven that she remains a strong, powerful presence in the country music industry.
