|
Gretchen Wilson is a new breed of country diva, and it has made her an envelope-breaking star since her smash debut in 2004. After years of singing in restaurants and department stores for tips, she has finally made her way into the country big time, but she hasn?t forgotten her small-town roots.
Wilson was born into poverty and dropped out of high school in 8th grade (she recently earned her GED). When she traveled to Nashville after wowing locals with her pipes at the age of 20, she found that the music industry was more difficult to infiltrate than she once thought. She found a friend, though, in former Lonestar member John Rich, who made her his song-writing partner in 2000. She released "Here for the Party" in 2004 ? the album included the title track and "Redneck Woman."
After the success her debut album, she went on tour with Brooks & Dunn and Montgomery Gentry to hone her touring skills. In 2005, she released "All Jacked Up," which included the title track and "I Don?t Feel Like Loving You Today." After that, she spent time performing with a number of artists, including Kid Rock and The Twisted Brown Trucker Band. Most recently, she released "One of the Boys," featuring the single "Come to Bed."
While Wilson?s raw, take-no-prisoners music style seems like it wouldn?t exactly cater to critics, but they sure do seem to like her. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 she was nominated for a total of eight Grammy Awards, taking one home for Best Country Female Vocal Performance for "Redneck Woman."
This summer, Wilson is heading out on the road for a number of casino and fair appearances, which will certainly be a spectacular time.
|
