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.
I Don
Gretchen Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So don't you even try to change my mind
The best thing you can do right now is just go away
Cause I don't feel like loving you today
I don't want to talk about last night
I'm angry and haven't had much sleep
And I'm so tired and bloodshot, there ain't no telling what I'd say
[Chorus:]
But you know I will anyway
Even though we make it hard sometimes
I'll wind up forgiving you
And probably loving you for the rest of my life
But I don't feel like loving you today
And I've got sixteen hours left to go
I might tell you that I'm leavin' even though you know I'll stay
Cause I don't feel like loving you today
[Chorus]
But I don't feel like loving you today
I just don't feel like loving you today.
Gretchen Wilson's song "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today" is a raw and honest portrayal of the ups and downs of relationships. The chorus explains that despite difficulties, the singer will likely still end up forgiving and loving her partner in the long run, but in this moment, she just can't summon the emotional energy to put on a happy face and pretend like everything is okay. The verses specifically detail the singer's reasons for feeling this way: she's angry, sleep-deprived, and emotional.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't feel like loving you today
I am emotionally drained and do not have the energy to love you today.
So don't you even try to change my mind
Please do not attempt to persuade or convince me otherwise as I am not in the mood to be convinced.
The best thing you can do right now is just go away
It is in our best interest for you to leave as I do not have the capacity to maintain a positive relationship at the moment.
Cause I don't feel like loving you today
My current emotional state is simply not conducive to expressing love towards you.
I don't want to talk about last night
I am not ready to revisit and discuss the events that occurred last night.
I'm angry and haven't had much sleep
I am feeling a strong emotion of anger due to lack of sleep.
And I'm so tired and bloodshot, there ain't no telling what I'd say
Being tired and sleep-deprived, I am concerned I may say something I do not intend to.
Cause I don't feel like loving you today
Due to my restless state, I simply cannot express love to you at this point in time.
But you know I will anyway
Despite all this, I still have a strong connection and will most likely love you regardless of our current situation.
Even though we make it hard sometimes
Our relationship is not always easy and we do face challenges from time to time.
I'll wind up forgiving you
Inevitably, I will forgive any issues that we may have and move past them.
And probably loving you for the rest of my life
Despite our current troubles, I am confident that our love will persist and we will maintain a strong relationship for a long time.
But I don't feel like loving you today
However, at this point in time, my emotional capacity for expressing love is depleted.
And I've got sixteen hours left to go
There is still a significant amount of time left in the day, and I may feel differently later on.
I might tell you that I'm leavin' even though you know I'll stay
It is possible that I may express a desire to leave, but I ultimately will choose to stay in our relationship.
Cause I don't feel like loving you today
Once again, my current emotional state does not allow me to express love towards you at this point in time.
But I don't feel like loving you today
Repeating the same sentiment once more, I am simply unable to love you today.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group
Written by: MATRACA MARIA BERG, JIM COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kellysong2256
She's truly talented. She can sing a beautiful love ballad as well as a hard rock song
@ourcatthefatness
I wish she’d make another album. Her voice is amazing and she’s a country legend in my opinion.
@tinabrown8456
Mine Tooo
@sherlynn65
One of the most beautiful songs ever written. She does such an amazing job singing it.
@markbuckles6609
I guess the things I like about Gretchen's ballads, is that they are so sincere, honest and pure. One thing I can say is she sure knows how to pick them. And those big dark eyes make you think she believes what she s singing.
@Wilcox3
I miss Gretchen Wilson on the radio and in concert.
@michaelmullins5750
What a true beauty!!! Hands down
@crazgirl80
Such a voice, pure, unique and needed in country music!
@christinegreene6940
Yeah,she needs to go on tour again!!!
@joshuabrooks4907
This is one of the hardest things you can ever say to someone you love.