A Conversation with Gretchen Wilson
A Conversation with Gretchen Wilson
Iconic “Red Neck Woman” Joins Big & Rich Live in Salamanca This Weekend
Photos: Gretchen Wilson Facebook
Summer is on its way - finally - and to kick off the anticipated concert line-up in WNY is female award-winning singer/songwriter Gretchen Wilson. Country duo Big & Rich will join Wilson for an outdoor show on Saturday, May 25th at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca.
Wilson loves Big & Rich, who she calls her brothers, and they have toured together many times in the past. Rich co-wrote “Redneck Woman” with Wilson and it has proved to be her biggest and most recognizable song that won her a coveted Grammy Award in 2005.
The singer’s career started out on fire, winning the Grammy right out of the gate, to being the opening act for tours with Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney. It didn’t take long for her to become the headliner herself. Accolades found Wilson through winning ACM’s for “Top Female Vocalist of the Year” and “New Artist of the Year”, both in 2004, along with two CMA awards including the “Horizon Award” in 2004 and “Female Vocalist of the Year” in 2005.
Wearing many hats in the music industry as a singer, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur starting her own record label, Redneck Records, she took a couple years off to raise her daughter, Grace, and has no regrets doing so. Her work ethic comes from her grandpa who always told her that “nothing good comes easy." And she holds true to that every day.
I caught up with Wilson in between her busy schedule, and she talked about a key milestone she achieved in her life for her daughter and why she did it… leading her to become an advocate for adult education. We also talked about her music idols (which include a who’s who in country and country rock genres), what artist she considers her dream collaborator that she has yet to work with, and what the best part of being Gretchen Wilson is.
Wilson can’t wait to get here May 25th and has a message for her fans… “Watch out! This tour has been so much fun. And even after all these years, I still never know what might happen out there with my brothers John, Kenny and Cowboy Troy!”
For ticket information visit SenecaAlleganyCasino.com. For more information on Wilson visit gretchenwilson.com.
A CONVERSATION WITH GRETCHEN WILSON
HULICK: How do you feel that you are recognized in the category of female singers known by their first names like Loretta, Cher, Janis and Dolly?
WILSON: The names you mention are icons! I am not sure anyone can really describe what it feels like to be included in that category.
HULICK: You burst onto the music scene in 2004 with your first single, “Redneck Woman” from your debut album, Here For The Party, which won you a Grammy Award. Your second album, All Jacked Up, had your lead-off single, of the same name, become the highest debuting single for a female country artist at the time. Did you feel added stress that you had to keep up with the success of those two songs?
WILSON: By the time we hit the 2nd album it was definitely stressful, but I didn’t look at it that way at the time. We were all just trying to hold on - traveling all over the world touring, doing television shows and other media. We went to Europe three times and Australia once… crossed the international date line twice in a week! All of it was everything I wanted and dreamed of, but it was definitely a lot.
HULICK: You wrote “Redneck Woman” with John Rich of Big & Rich, who you are headlining with for your show here at Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino at the end of May. You have to be having so much fun touring with them.
WILSON: We are family. We have been making music and memories together for more than 20 years! Sometimes I look over at my brothers in arms on either side of the stage… and our eyes meet… and I feel what I hope every artist gets to feel at some point in their career. Totality would be a good way to sum it up!
HULICK: You are a singer, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur and you started your own record company, “Redneck Records”. What would you say is your favorite part of the business?
WILSON: There is a LOT of business to what I do. But getting to be creative (as a job) is well worth the paper pushing. ‘Nothing good comes easy’ is what my grandpa always said, so I always just try to start each day with the hardest task. By the time I get to the show in the evening, the hard part is over and it’s time to party!
HULICK: Did you always want to be a singer/songwriter?
WILSON: I started out singing in bar bands. So I used to think how good I was, was based on how much I could sound like other artists. When I finally started to write songs for myself, I was forced into finding my own sound. Thankfully I was good at songwriting. Being a hit songwriter is in my opinion, one of my greatest accomplishments.
HULICK: Who are your music idols?
WILSON: I name-check most of them in ‘Redneck Woman’ - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kid Rock, Hank Jr., Tanya Tucker, George Strait, but of course there’s Dolly, Patsy, Merle Haggard, Willie, Waylon, Cash and well… I think you get the picture by now.
HULICK: You dropped out of school when you were in 9th grade. You received your GED at the age of 34. This led to you shining a light on the importance of adult education, which led to you receiving the National Coalition for Literacy Leadership Award. That has to be one of your shining moments. Can you talk a little bit about that?
WILSON: My sole purpose for doing that was for my daughter, Grace, who was around seven at the time. I didn't want her to think you can be this successful without an education. It's something that I should have done long before that, AND… it made me walk a little taller.
HULICK: You’ve worked and collaborated with so many artists. Is there someone you’d like to work with that you haven’t?
WILSON: Oh soooo many! But if I had to put a name at the top of that list it would be Travis Tritt. I have been a fan of his music and his voice for as long as he’s been making music.
HULICK: You could say that you are not only a huge female country artist, but you can also consider yourself a perennial rocker with your connections to the songs of the female group, Heart. These days the hard line that existed between the genres of music in the past don’t seem to exist anymore. What are your thoughts?
WILSON: I grew up playing in bar bands. One minute it was Patty Loveless, the next minute it was Alice in Chains. My opinion is still the same as it was back in the Muzik Mafia days… It can be anything… as long as it’s great!
HULICK: You seem to be an artist that thrives on live performances. How did you handle it when everything shut down when Covid hit?
WILSON: I was forced to slow down, because I shattered my leg during that time, and it took months to recover. I feel so very fortunate to have my health back and to be back out there. I give God all the thanks and glory.
HULICK: Any new projects in the works?
WILSON: I have a new single in the works… should be hearing about it very soon.
HULICK: What’s the best part of being Gretchen Wilson?
WILSON: I’ve just always tried to be honest in everything I do. My songs are me, so the person on stage is the same one doing laundry, cleaning my house, and taking care of my family… and a bunch of dogs
HULICK: Describe what your perfect day would look like if you could do anything you wanted.
WILSON: Every day is perfect to me, whether I’m on tour, writing, recording or spending time with my daughter and mom. If you get up real early and have coffee with the amazing creation outdoors, it can only be great!
