Probably most famous for her single “Redneck Woman”, Gretchen Wilson has led a life that many people would find overwhelming. Not only has she overcome her early beginnings, living in poverty with a single mother who had her at only sixteen, but she has also gone on to complete her high school education as an adult while also juggling a career and family. Additionally, she has been active in several charities including the Make-A-Wish foundation and has also openly supported the Republican party in recent elections.

Gretchen Wilson began her career as a bartender and cook in rural Illinois around her childhood town of Pocahontas and eventually moved on to sing around St. Louis. When she was eighteen, she was discovered by Susie Osburn from Springfield, Missouri. Susie was in search of the next house band for her bar and could tell immediately that Wilson had a great amount of talent when she walked in and heard what she thought was a recording of Patsy Kline which turned out to be the young star.

Eventually Gretchen moved to Nashville and signed a contract with Sony Music Nashville and began releasing her own songs. Though she initially did well under the label, they eventually failed to promote her well enough to encourage large sales numbers and they parted ways with a greatest hits album filling out her contractual duties. Since then she has gone on to produce her own music through her newly formed record label, Redneck Records.