Gretchen Wilson Was Broke Before Releasing Biggest Hit

Gretchen Wilson is doing very well these days. The sassy "Redneck Woman" singer was the tour manager on The Road , a singing competition featuring Keith Urban which aired in TV last fall. She also dropped a new single titled "Redneck S--t." Wilson was on The Masked Singer as well. So everything is looking pretty rosy for the singer at the age of 52. Videos by Wide Open Country However, it was not always the case. "Redneck Woman" dramatically transformed Gretchen Wilson's life both professionally and financially. It soared to the top of the charts. She landed a Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance, too. Before that, though, times were really very hard for Wilson. Wilson Wrote That She Was Broke One thing about country artists, they are honest. They routinely come clean about their busted relationships and marriages, difficult medical issues, and painful childhoods. Gretchen Wilson is very forthright as well. She has been extremely candid about her rough moments before she hit big with "Redneck Woman." When it came to money, for example, Wilson was formerly in dire straits. "In fact, I was more broke, I think, than I'd ever been in my life," was how she phrased it in her book, Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life. Wilson was scrambling just to make ends meet back then. Now, according to Celebrity Net Worth , Gretchen Wilson has a cool $4 million in the bank. Her days of struggling seem to be over for good. She has worked relentlessly to get to where she is and the effort has paid off. "Redneck Woman" put Wilson on the map to stay. How "Redneck Woman" Came To Be Written Per The Boot , there is a priceless tale behind the writing of Gretchen Wilson's breakout hit. She was at John Rich 's home when a music video of Faith Hill came on TV. It made Wilson discouraged to see the ethereally lovely Hill at her sensuous best. Wilson's confidence suddenly sank right to the floor. She morosely confided to Rich, "This is crazy. I'm never going to make it; I don't think I'm going to make it in this industry." Wilson added, "Look at her. If that is what you have to be to be a country music artist, it's never going to happen. I'm not that; I'll never be that ." When Rich asked her what she was, Wilson frankly replied, "Well, I guess I'm just a redneck woman. That's what I grew up around. That's all the woman I know, are redneck woman. I don't think I can do that." He suggested they write a song based upon her keen observation. Thus a monster success was in the works. Gretchen Wilson's life would never be the same. Music Gretchen Wilson Arrested Over 'Minor Disturbance' On Flight Music Guy Fieri Apparently Tried To Give This Country Icon the Boot at John Rich’s Restaurant Music Gretchen Wilson Opens up About Spirit Sequel to "Redneck Woman" Music Gretchen Wilson Is Loving Her New Role as Tour Manager on 'The Road': "I Just Feel Blessed"