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.
Earrings Song
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well I finally found a sitter who'd stay late on Friday night,
So I could do some dancin' underneath them neon lights
Get out of the kitchen do a little catchin' up with my old man
And I couldn't help but notice girl that you keep slinkin' by
Stealin' his attention with the twinkle in your eye
You're causin' an involuntary clenchin of the fingers on my hand
Dont make me take my earrings out
Cause I'll show you what a catfight's all about
I'll throw you down and mop the floor
A man like mine's worth fightin for
Dont make me take my earrings out
And I bet I spent an hour at the bathroom vanity
Tryin to turn a mom into a ballroom beauty queen
I dont wanna mess it up but trust me honey I aint scared to break a nail
Yeah and I'd be glad to spend a night in jail
(Aw hell!)
So don't make me take my earrings out
Cause I'll show you what a catfight's all about
If you come waltzin' by once more
I'll drag your butt right out the door
So don't make me take my earrings out
(Ah-haw!)
So don't make me take my earrings out
Cause I'll show you what a catfight's all about
I'll throw you down and mop the floor
A man like mine's worth fightin for
Don't make me take my earrings out
If you come waltzin' by once more
I'll throw you down and mop the floor
And drag your butt right out the door
A man like mine's worth fightin for
So dont make me take my earrings out!
The Earrings Song by Gretchen Wilson tells the story of a woman who finally finds a babysitter who can handle staying late on Friday night so she can have some fun with her old man. However, she notices another woman trying to steal her man's attention, causing her to become jealous and protective. The woman warns the other to back off and not force her to take off her earrings and fight her because her man is worth fighting for. She explains that she is not afraid to break a nail and is willing to spend a night in jail to defend her man. The lyrics evoke a sense of loyalty and commitment to one's significant other, while also promoting a tough and assertive attitude towards anyone who might threaten their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I finally found a sitter who'd stay late on Friday night,
I have finally found someone to take care of my children while I go out on Friday night.
So I could do some dancin' underneath them neon lights
I can finally dance under the neon lights without worrying about my children.
Get out of the kitchen do a little catchin' up with my old man
I want to catch up with my husband and have some fun outside of our home.
And I couldn't help but notice girl that you keep slinkin' by
I have noticed that you keep trying to catch my husband's attention.
Stealin' his attention with the twinkle in your eye
You are trying to capture my husband's attention with your seductive gaze.
You're causin' an involuntary clenchin of the fingers on my hand
Your actions are making me clench my fists involuntarily out of anger and frustration.
So honey move along and find a place to park yourself while you still can
I suggest you find somewhere else to go because I am about to confront you.
Don't make me take my earrings out
If you do not leave, I am warning you that I am about to fight with you.
Cause I'll show you what a catfight's all about
I am confident that I will be able to defeat you in a physical fight.
I'll throw you down and mop the floor
I am so confident in my fighting abilities that I will easily defeat you and clean up the mess afterwards.
A man like mine's worth fightin for
I care about my husband and want to protect him from your advances.
And I bet I spent an hour at the bathroom vanity
I spent a lot of time getting ready for this night out.
Tryin to turn a mom into a ballroom beauty queen
I am trying to transform myself into a glamorous ballroom dancer.
I dont wanna mess it up but trust me honey I aint scared to break a nail
I am worried about ruining my appearance, but I am willing to fight you even if it means damaging my nails in the process.
Yeah and I'd be glad to spend a night in jail
I am willing to fight you even if it means I end up getting arrested.
So don't make me take my earrings out
I am warning you once again that I am prepared to fight you.
If you come waltzin' by once more
If you try to come near my husband again, I will not hesitate to confront you.
I'll drag your butt right out the door
If necessary, I am willing to physically remove you from this situation.
A man like mine's worth fightin for
I am determined to protect my husband from your advances at any cost.
So dont make me take my earrings out!
I am giving you one final warning to stay away from my husband before I take action.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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