Gretchen was born in Pocahontas, Illinois to a 16-year-old mother. Her father left before she was two years old, and she and her mother lived in trailer parks and relative poverty. Gretchen's mother worked as a waitress, and Gretchen herself dropped out of the 8th grade at age 15 to work as a cook and bartender in rural Illinois.
After a failed marriage to former Baywolfe bandmate Larry Rolens, Gretchen moved to Nashville and began dating Mike Penner. They have a daughter, Grace Frances Penner, who was born November 9, 2000.
Gretchen, who had sung for Kmart as a child, sang in two bar bands by the age of 20. In 1996 she moved to Nashville to sing back-up and record sample songs. In 2000, she met John Rich, a former member of Lonestar, who invited her to become his song-writing partner. Wilson signed with Epic Records in 2003 and recorded Here for the Party within the year.
Her first single, "Redneck Woman", was released in early 2004 and reached the top of the Hot Country Songs charts and #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. The success of "Redneck Woman" prompted an earlier-than-planned release for Here for the Party -- May 11, 2004 -- and it debuted at #1 on the Billboard country chart. It also reached #2 on the Billboard 200 and Billboard Internet album sales charts. She performed as a support artist for Brooks & Dunn and Montgomery Gentry.
She released the title track Here For The Party as the second single. It peaked at #3 on the Billboard country chart. Two other songs were released as singles, and both reached the top 10. Released in markets outside the U.S., the album hit #2 on the Australian country charts (behind Kasey Chambers) and the top 50 of the Australian charts. As of July 5, 2004, "Redneck Woman" was #1 on a world composite country chart (based on the U.S., UK, and Australia charts). The album went on sell more than 4 million copies in the U.S. and 5 million worldwide and was certified four times platinum.
On September 27, 2005, Gretchen released her second album, All Jacked Up, which peaked at #1 on both the Top 200 and Country album charts, but, after initial decent sales, the album quickly fell off the charts. It was certified Platinum and sold 1 million copies. The title track, All Jacked Up, peaked at a disappointing #8 on the Country singles chart and was the only song from the album to reach the top 10. The second single, I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today, peaked at #22. The third and the fourth singles were Politically Uncorrect and California Girls, which peaked respectively at #23 and #25 on the Country chart. Kid Rock appeared on "The Other Side of Me," an exclusive track that Target released with the album.
On February 28, 2006, Gretchen appeared on Kid Rock and The Twisted Brown Trucker Band's "Live" Trucker, as she performed "Picture" recorded at Detroit's Cobo Hall, 3/26/04. On November 2006, she released a new single called Come To Bed, a song produced by her friend John Rich, who also sings the background vocals. The song's suggestive video received a TV-14 S rating when aired on CMT.
Gretchen's "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" was nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Female Country Vocal Performance, and Best Country Song. In 2006, Wilson contributed a well-received cover of Kris Kristofferson's Sunday Mornin' Coming Down on the tribute CD The Pilgrim: A Celebration of Kris Kristofferson. In 2007, Wilson displayed her rock and roll vocals on the cable TV special VH1 Rock Honors, singing Heart's hit Barracuda, along with Alice in Chains and Heart member Nancy Wilson on guitars.,
On May 15, 2007, Gretchen released her third album, One of the Boys. The album debuted at #5 on the Top 200 and at #1 on the Country album chart. After 11 weeks, it exited the Billboard Top 200, having sold just 178,220 copies at that point. "Come To Bed" and "One Of The Boys", the first two singles released, both failed to enter the top 30 and missed the Hot 100 completely. The third single, "You Don't Have to Go Home", was even less successful, peaking at #53.
California Girls
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a lot of good women from Sacramento to Carona
But them Hollywood types after a while wearon ya
Struttin' around in their size zeros
Skinny little girls no meat on their bones
Never even heard of George Jones
[Chorus:]
Ain't you glad you glad there's still a few of us left.
That know how to rock your world
Ain't afraid to eat fried chicken and dirty dance to Merle
Ain't you glad we ain't all California girls
There ain't nothing wrong with plastic surgery
Well Dolly Parton never looked so good to me
Everybody ought to be exactly who they want to be
But that Paris Hilton Gets under my skin
With her big fake smile and and her painted on tan
She'd never have a chance at a real man
[Chorus: x2]
Ain't you glad we ain't all California girls.
In this song, Gretchen Wilson expresses her opinion on California girls, particularly those who live in Hollywood. She acknowledges that there are many good women in California, but she's not fond of the Hollywood types who wear size zero outfits and have no meat on their bones. She even goes on to say that they've never even heard of George Jones, implying that they have no appreciation for country music. Wilson highlights the fact that not all women need to be skinny and that she and other women who are not California girls still know how to have a good time by eating fried chicken and dancing to Merle.
She even addresses the topic of plastic surgery in the song, recognizing that there's nothing wrong with it and that everyone should be who they want to be. However, she specifically mentions her dislike for Paris Hilton and her fake smile, suggesting that she would not be able to attract a real man. The chorus of the song repeats the message that Wilson is glad that not all women are like California girls, and that there are still women left who know how to rock your world and have fun.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't neve had a problem with California
I have no issues with California.
There's a lot of good women from Sacramento to Carona
There are many great women in California ranging from Sacramento to Carona.
But them Hollywood types after a while wearon ya
The Hollywood types eventually become tiring.
Struttin' around in their size zeros
They flaunt in their size-zero figures.
Skinny little girls no meat on their bones
They are unnaturally thin with no muscles or curves.
Never even heard of George Jones
They are not aware of the legendary country musician, George Jones.
Ain't you glad we ain't all California girls
It's great that not all women are like California girls.
Ain't you glad you glad there's still a few of us left.
We should appreciate that a few of us still do not conform to the California girl stereotype.
That know how to rock your world
Women who know how to impress you in various ways.
Ain't afraid to eat fried chicken and dirty dance to Merle
We are not ashamed to devour fatty foods and dance provocatively to Merle Haggard songs.
Ain't nothing wrong with plastic surgery
There is nothing wrong with cosmetic surgery.
Well Dolly Parton never looked so good to me
Dolly Parton has always looked amazing to me, especially after her cosmetic procedures.
Everybody ought to be exactly who they want to be
Everyone should be free to be themselves.
But that Paris Hilton Gets under my skin
Paris Hilton annoys me.
With her big fake smile and and her painted on tan
She has a forced and dishonest smile and a fake tan.
She'd never have a chance at a real man
She could never win over a genuine man.
Ain't you glad we ain't all California girls
It's great that not all women are like California girls.
Ain't you glad you glad there's still a few of us left.
We should cherish the fact that some of us still don't fit the stereotype of California girls.
That know how to rock your world
Women who know how to impress you in various ways.
Ain't afraid to eat fried chicken and dirty dance to Merle
We are not ashamed to devour fatty foods and dance provocatively to Merle Haggard songs.
Ain't you glad we ain't all California girls
It's great that not all women are like California girls.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JOHN D. RICH, GRETCHEN FRANCES N WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
faith lee
Gretchen Wilson absolutely nailed it on this track, no doubt about it! That banger right here got me hyped like crazy, bangaa! I ain't even trippin' if Gretchen Wilson used AUTHENTIC VIEWS to get that mad exposure and get the ball rollin'. Truth is, plenty of other artists be doin' the same thing, Keep slayin' those beats!
TraannLovesJLo43
I absolutely love this song!
In Excess fan
Love it ..
Both kinds of music - country AND western
🎧 🎸
Adam Stonebridge
love her!!!!! great voice
Hall
She is one of the best female country singers.
Kayla Parman
She's awesome. She was the first person I saw in concert!
neongirl712
OMG I love Gretchen Wilson's songs so much! She is my role model! I wanna grow up to be just like her!!!!
Aracelis Ferreiras
did you ?
Taylor Hakey
@Aracelis Ferreiras Bahaha omg I didn’t know I commented on this as a kid. Kinda I guess? 😂😂
Aracelis Ferreiras
@Taylor Hakey haha good for you