Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Kenneth Arnold Chesney
Birth date	March 26, 1968
Origin	Luttrell, Tennessee, U.S.
Instrument	vocals, guitar, bass
Height	5'7.5" (1.71 m)
Genre	Country
Occupation	singer-songwriter
Years active	1993–present
Label	Capricorn, BNA
Associated acts	Buddy Cannon, George Strait, Dave Matthews, Uncle Kracker, Gretchen Wilson
Website	Official website }}

Kenneth Arnold "Kenny" Chesney (born March 26, 1968) is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs charts, 20 of which climbed to the top of the charts.

Over the life of his career, Chesney has been honored with numerous awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM), Country Music Association (CMA), American Music Awards (AMA), Country Music Television (CMT), Billboard Music Awards (BMA), People's Choice Awards (PCA), and the French Country Music Awards (FCMA).

Chesney recently produced and co-directed a film for ESPN, "The Boys Of Fall". Chesney has received six Academy of Country Music awards (including four consecutive Entertainer of the Year Awards from 2005 to 2008), as well as six Country Music Association awards. He is one of the most popular touring acts in country music, regularly selling out the venues at which he performs. His 2007 ''Flip-Flop Summer Tour'' was the highest-grossing country road trip of the year.

The Country Music Association honored Chesney with the Entertainer of the Year award in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Other notable awards include the Academy of Country Music's 1997 New Male Vocalist of the Year, 2002 Top Male Vocalist of the Year, and the Triple Crown Award in 2005. He was awarded his fourth consecutive Entertainer of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music on May 18, 2008.

Early life

Chesney was born on March 26, 1968, in Knoxville, Tennessee at St. Mary's Medical Center and raised in Luttrell, Tennessee, better known as the home of Chet Atkins. He is the son of David Chesney, a former elementary school teacher, and Karen Chandler, a hair stylist in the Knoxville area. Chesney has one sibling, a younger sister named Jennifer Chandler. In 1986 Chesney graduated from Gibbs High School where he played baseball and football. Chesney received his first guitar for Christmas and began teaching himself to play. Chesney studied advertising at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City TN, where he was a member of the ETSU Bluegrass Program and the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. In 1989 Chesney recorded a self-released demo album at Classic Recording Studio in Bristol, Virginia. He sold 1,000 copies while performing at the local clubs in Johnson City and used the money from album sales to help buy a new guitar. Chesney graduated from East Tennessee State in December 1990 with a degree in advertising. After graduation he headed to Nashville and performed at several local clubs. He became the resident performer at The Turf, a honky tonk bar in the city's historic district.

Career and awards

''Signing first publishing and record deals''

In 1992, the head of publisher/writer relations at BMI, Clay Bradley, recommended Chesney to his friend at Opryland Music Group, Troy Tomlinson, by saying: "I met this kid today from East Tennessee. He’s a good singer, a good songwriter, and more than anything, I think you’re going to really like him as a person.” For the audition for Tomlinson, Chesney performed five songs. Tomlinson's reaction was enthusiastic, later telling HitQuarters:

"First of all I was attracted to the songs, because I thought that he painted great pictures in his lyrics, particularly for someone who had not been around the typical Music Row co-writes. I thought that he sang very well too. But more than anything there was a kind of this ‘I-will-do-it’ look in his eyes - I was really drawn in by the fact that he was so set on being successful in this business."

Chesney left the audition with a songwriter’s contract. An appearance at a songwriter’s showcase the following year led to a contract with Capricorn Records which had recently started a country division. He released his debut album ''In My Wildest Dreams'' in April 1994. When Capricorn closed its country music division in Nashville and moved to Atlanta, Georgia Chesney signed with BNA Records.

''In My Wildest Dreams (1994)''

Chesney's first album, ''In My Wildest Dreams'', was released on the independent Capricorn Records label in 1994. The album's lead-off singles, "The Tin Man" and "Whatever It Takes", both reached the lower regions of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts. The album sold approximately 10,000 copies before Capricorn Records closed its country music division later that year.

''All I Need to Know (1995)''

After Capricorn's closure, Chesney signed with BNA Records, which released his album ''All I Need to Know'' in 1995. The album produced three hit singles. "Fall in Love" and "All I Need to Know" both reached the Top Ten, while "Grandpa Told Me So" peaked at #23. "The Tin Man" was also included on this album, although it was not released as a single at the time.

''Me and You (1996-1997)''

Released in 1996, Chesney's second major-label album was ''Me and You''. Although its lead-off single peaked just outside the Top 40 on the country charts, the album's title track (which was reprised from ''All I Need to Know'') and the single "When I Close My Eyes" (which was previously recorded by Larry Stewart on his 1993 debut album ''Down the Road'') both peaked at #2 on the ''Billboard'' country charts. ''Me and You'' was also Chesney's first gold-certified album. A cover of Mac McAnally's 1990 single "Back Where I Come From" was also included on this album. Although Chesney's version was never released as a single, it has become a regular song played during his concerts. In recognition of his successful year, Chesney was honored with the 1997 Academy of Country Music's New Male Vocalist of the Year award.

''I Will Stand (1997-1998)''

''I Will Stand'', Chesney's third album for BNA, was released in 1997. "She's Got It All" was the album's lead-off single, becoming Chesney's first #1 single, spending three weeks at the top of the ''Billboard'' country charts. The album's second single, "A Chance", peaked just shy of the Top Ten. In 1998, "That's Why I'm Here" went to #2 on ''Billboard'' and reached the top of the charts on ''Radio & Records'', giving Chesney his third #1 single overall.

''Everywhere We Go (1999)''

''Everywhere We Go'', released in 1999, was Chesney's fourth album for BNA. The album produced two consecutive #1 singles in "How Forever Feels" and "You Had Me from Hello" (the latter inspired by a line in the movie ''Jerry Maguire''). The album also produced two more hits, including "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" and "What I Need to Do", which peaked at #11 and #8 on the country charts, respectively. ''Everywhere We Go'' was Chesney's first platinum-selling album.

''Greatest Hits (2000)''

By 2000, Chesney released his ''Greatest Hits'' compilation album. It included four new tracks, as well as updated versions of "Fall in Love", "The Tin Man", and "Back Where I Come From". The new version of "The Tin Man" was one of the disc's three singles, along with two of the new tracks, "I Lost It" and "Don't Happen Twice".

''No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems (2002-2003)''

The album ''No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems'' was released in 2002. The lead-off single, "Young", peaked at #2, while the follow-up "The Good Stuff" spent seven weeks at #1, becoming ''Billboard's'' #1 country song of the year for 2002. The video for "Young" was honored by CMT with the Video of the Year and Male Video of the Year awards for 2002. In 2003, ACM honored Chesney as Top Male Vocalist of the Year, while "The Good Stuff" received the award for Single Record of the Year. The following year, CMT recognized the video produced for "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" as the Hottest Video of the Year.

''All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan (2003)''

In 2003, Chesney recorded ''All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan''. The album's title track peaked at #30 on the country charts from holiday airplay.

''When the Sun Goes Down (2004-2005)''

2004 saw the release of Chesney's album ''When the Sun Goes Down''. Its lead-off single, "There Goes My Life", spent seven weeks at the top of the ''Billboard'' country charts. On April 21, 2004, the accompanying video was honored by CMT with the Male Video of the Year award. The album's title track, "When the Sun Goes Down", a duet with Uncle Kracker, was also a #1 single. The video from the third single from the album, "I Go Back", was honored on April 11, 2005, with the Male Video of the Year by Country Music Television.

''When the Sun Goes Down'' was honored with the 2004 CMA award for Album of the Year, while Chesney was honored as the Entertainer of the Year. He was also presented with the American Music Award's 2004 Artist of the Year award.

''Be as You Are'' and ''The Road and the Radio (2005-2006)''

In January 2005, Chesney released the album ''Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair)'', supporting the album with his ''Somewhere in the Sun Tour''.

In the spring of 2005, Chesney was honored with the prestigious Triple-Crown Award presented by the Academy of Country Music. This award was presented after Chesney's 2004 Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award was combined with 1997's New Male Vocalist of the Year award and 2003's Top Male Vocalist of the Year award. The following year, on May 23, 2006, Chesney was honored with his second Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Chesney released his second album of the year in November, ''The Road and the Radio'', producing three #1 singles. "Living in Fast Forward", "Summertime", and "Beer in Mexico" all hit #1, while "Who You'd Be Today" and "You Save Me" broke the Top Five.

''Live: Live Those Songs Again (2006)''

''Live: Live Those Songs Again'' is Chesney's first live album. Released on September 19, 2006 on BNA Records, the album includes live renditions of 15 songs, including 11 singles. "Live Those Songs", "Never Gonna Feel Like That Again", "On the Coast of Somewhere Beautiful", and "Back Where I Come From" were never released by Chesney as singles, while "Back Where I Come From" had been released as a single from Mac McAnally's 1990 album ''Simple Life''.

Collaborations

Chesney, along with Tim McGraw, contributed to a version of Tracy Lawrence's single "Find Out Who Your Friends Are", which can be found on Lawrence's album ''For the Love''. The official single version, featuring only Lawrence's vocals, was released in August 2006, but did not reach the Top 40 on the country charts until January 2007, when ''For the Love'' was released. After the album's release, the version with McGraw and Chesney began receiving significant airplay, helping to boost the single to #1 on the country charts. The song became Lawrence's first #1 single in 11 years, as well as the second-slowest climbing #1 single in the history of the ''Billboard'' music charts.

Chesney also co-wrote Rascal Flatts' 2007 single along with Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley, "Take Me There", which served as the lead-off single to their album ''Still Feels Good''.

Chesney also recorded a duet with Reba McEntire on her #1 2007 album, ''Reba: Duets''. "Every Other Weekend" peaked at #15 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Singles chart and #104 on the ''Billboard'' Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart. The album has sold 2.1 million copies world-wide and is certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1 million. "Every Other Weekend" was the final single from the album.

''Super Hits (2007)''

On November 7, 2007 Chesney was named the CMA Entertainer of the Year for the third time in four years. The following week, on November 15, 2007, the compilation ''Super Hits'' album was released as part of Sony BMG's ''Super Hits'' series.

''Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates (2007-2008)''

On September 11, 2007, Chesney released the album ''Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates''. The album represented a move to a more gulf and western sound with a number of "breezy, steel-drum island songs." Kanye West's album ''Graduation'', as well as 50 Cent's album ''Curtis'', were released on the same day. Kanye West and 50 Cent were in the midst of a competitive sales war, with 50 Cent claiming he would end his solo rap career if West sold more albums than he did (remarks he later retracted as terms with of contract conflicted with the promise). Kenny Chesney, however, decided he would give country music a place in the competition, claiming country artists were just as popular as rap artists. Chesney came in third place in the number of record sales between the three musical artists.

The album's lead-off single, "Never Wanted Nothing More", became Chesney's 12th song to hit the top of the ''Billboard'' country charts. On the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart dated for the week ending September 15, 2007, Chesney's single "Don't Blink" debuted at #16, setting a new record for the highest debut on that chart since the inception of SoundScan electronic tabulation in 1990. This record was broken one week later by Garth Brooks' song "More Than a Memory", which debuted at #1 on the same chart, making it the first song ever to do so. The third single off of ''Just Who I Am'' album, "Shiftwork", a duet with George Strait peaked at #2 on the ''Billboard'' country chart. During the week of June 28, 2008, the fourth single, "Better as a Memory", became Chesney's 14th single to hit the top of the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart. Chesney started his ''Poets and Pirates Tour'' on April 26, 2008 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. During the introduction of his set, his boot was caught between a hydraulic lift and the lip of the stage surface, crushing his foot and causing a severe hematoma from the ankle down, with most of the damage centering in his toes. It took approximately 30 seconds to pry his foot loose as he squatted down on the stage while the band continued to play an extended introduction of the song. When Chesney finally freed himself, he stood up and kept holding his hand on his knee as he began to sing.

Chesney did not acknowledge the injury during the early part of his performance. However, he was visibly limping and seemed to rest near a drum riser while leaning over and holding his knee during the instrumental breaks of his hit songs. As he came offstage, a doctor from the University of South Carolina cut off Chesney’s cowboy boot and immediately began treating the foot injury. X-rays taken later revealed several crushed bones in his right foot.

The injury did not cause him to postpone any shows, saying "He (the doctor) told me it's going to hurt – though nothing could hurt worse than Saturday, I don't think – and they can give me something to deaden the pain when I get out there. I also have to have a doctor standing by should something give, but I'm going to tape it up, and I'm going to get out there."

On May 19, 2008, just a day after being honored as the ACM Entertainer of the Year at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Chesney criticized the lack of choice in the producers' awarding the honor based on fan votes. "The entertainer of the year trophy is supposed to represent heart and passion and an amazing amount of sacrifice, commitment and focus," he said. "That's the way Garth won it four times, that's the way I won it, that's the way Strait won it, Reba, Alabama all those years. That's what it's supposed to represent."

''Lucky Old Sun (2008-2009)''

On July 24, 2008, Chesney announced that he would be releasing a new single off an upcoming album entitled ''Lucky Old Sun''. The song was titled "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven", and for the chart week of August 16, 2008, it debuted at #22 on the ''Billboard'' Hot Country Songs chart. The album was released on October 14, 2008. "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven" became a #1 hit. It was followed by a cover of Mac McAnally's 1990 single "Down the Road".

Chesney's 2009 tour was titled the ''Sun City Carnival Tour'' and featured both small and large venues in order to keep his ticket prices down. The tour included a performance at Gillette Stadium again, marking the fifth year in a row that he played at the Foxboro, Massachusetts football field.

''Greatest Hits II (2010)''

On May 19, 2010, ''Greatest Hits II'' was released with two new tracks. In February, "Ain't Back Yet" was sent to country music radio stations. The #1 hit "Out Last Night" was the lead single.

''Hemingway's Whiskey (2010-present)''

In July 2010, Chesney released "The Boys of Fall" as the lead-off single from his album ''Hemingway's Whiskey'', which was released in September 2010. The song hit #1 on the Hot Country Songs chart for the week of October 9, 2010, marking Chesney's eighteenth number one hit.

He then appeared at the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010.

The second single from ''Hemingway's Whiskey'', "Somewhere with You", was released in November 2010. The song debuted at #35 on the country chart for the week of November 6, 2010. It then hit #1 in January 2011.

Chesney produced and narrated a biographical film, ''The Color Orange'', on his favorite football player growing up, University of Tennessee quarterback and Canadian Football League hall-of-famer Condredge Holloway. The film was produced for ESPN's "Year of the Quarterback" series, and premiered on February 20, 2011.

Personal life

Chesney owns a 60' Sea Ray yacht and also has a home in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He spends time in the Caribbean and includes island-themed songs in some of his work, such as those on his 2005 album ''Be As You Are''.

On May 9, 2005, Kenny Chesney married actress Renee Zellweger in a ceremony on the island of St. John. They had met in January at a tsunami relief benefit concert. On September 15 of that same year, after only four months of marriage, they announced their plans for an annulment. Zellweger cited fraud as the reason in the related papers, but after media scrutiny of her use of the word "fraud", she qualified the use of the term, stating it was "simply legal language and not a reflection of Kenny's character". Chesney later suggested the failure of his marriage was due to "panic" from the intense media scrutiny surrounding it. In an interview by 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper, Chesney commented on the failed marriage. "The only fraud that was committed was me thinking that I knew what it was like…that I really understood what it was like to be married, and I really didn't." The annulment was finalized in late December 2005. Kenny Chesney's family still resides in east Tennessee.

Philanthropy

Chesney's most recent charity work includes working with the V Foundation. Founded by the late Jim Valvano, the V Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping to find a cure for cancer. Valvano, former coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack Basketball team, died on April 28, 1993 following a year-long battle with cancer.

In 1998, Chesney recorded a limited-edition single titled "Touchdown Tennessee". The single was a tribute to John Ward, a former broadcaster for the University of Tennessee Volunteers' football team; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the John Ward Scholarship Fund received a portion of the single's sales.

Tours

Chesney has won the Billboard Touring Award for Top Package Tour four consecutive years between 2005 and 2008.

Greatest Hits Tour 2001

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems Tour 2002

Margaritas N' Senorita's Tour 2003

Guitars, Tiki Bars & A Whole Lotta Love Tour 2004(w/Rascal Flatts)

Somewhere In The Sun Tour 2005 (w/Gretchen Wilson, Uncle Kracker, Pat Green)

The Road & The Radio Tour 2006 (w/ Dierks Bentley & others)

Flip-Flop Summer Tour 2007 (w/ Brooks & Dunn, Sugarland, Sara Evans & Pat Green)

The Poets & Pirates Tour 2008 (w/ Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan & Sammy Hagar)

Sun City Carnival Tour 2009 (w/ Miranda Lambert, Sugarland, Lady Antebellum & Montgomery Gentry)

2010 With A Two Tour 2010 (Festivels)

Goin' Coastal Tour 2011 (w/ Zac Brown Band, Uncle Kracker & Billy Currington)

Discography

;Studio Albums

1994: ''In My Wildest Dreams''

1995: ''All I Need to Know''

1996: ''Me and You''

1997: ''I Will Stand''

1999: ''Everywhere We Go''

2002: ''No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems''

2003: ''All I Want for Christmas Is a Real Good Tan''

2004: ''When the Sun Goes Down''

2005: ''Be as You Are (Songs from an Old Blue Chair)''

2005: ''The Road and the Radio''

2007: ''Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates''

2008: ''Lucky Old Sun''

2010: ''Hemingway's Whiskey''

;Compilation albums

2000: ''Greatest Hits

2006: ''Live: Live Those Songs Again

2008: ''Super Hits''

2009: ''Greatest Hits II

Awards

1997 ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year

2002 CMT Male Video of the Year: Young

2002 CMT Video of the Year: Young

2003 ACM Single Record of the Year: The Good Stuff

2003 ACM Top Male Vocalist of the Year

2004 AMA Artist of the Year

2004 CMA Entertainer of the Year

2004 CMA Album of the Year: When The Sun Goes Down

2004 CMT Hottest Video of the Year: No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems

2004 CMT Male Video of the Year: There Goes My Life

2005 ACM Entertainer of the Year

2005 ACM Triple Crown Winner

2005 CMT Male Video of the Year: I Go Back

2006 CMA Entertainer of the Year

2006 ACM Entertainer of the Year

2006 CMT Male Video of the Year: Who You Be Today

2006 BMA Best Male Country Artist

2006 BMA Best Country Artist

2007 CMT Male Video of the Year: You Save Me

2007 PCA Favorite Male Singer

2007 ACM Entertainer of the Year

2007 CMA Musical Event of the Year: Find Out Who Your Friends Are

2007 CMA Entertainer of the Year

2008 ACM Entertainer of the Year

2008 ACM Vocal Event of the Year: Find Out Who Your Friends Are

2008 FACM Best Duo of the Year: Every Other Weekend

2008 CMA Entertainer of the Year

See also

List of best-selling music artists

References

External links

Official Website

Official Film Website for Kenny Chesney: Summer in 3D

Kenny Chesney : News : 2010 With A Two Tour 2010 Tickets

Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:American country singers Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:American male singers Category:BNA Records artists Category:Musicians from Tennessee Category:East Tennessee State University alumni Category:People from Knoxville, Tennessee Category:LGBT Musicians from the United States

pdc:Kenny Chesney de:Kenny Chesney es:Kenny Chesney fr:Kenny Chesney it:Kenny Chesney nl:Kenny Chesney no:Kenny Chesney pt:Kenny Chesney ru:Чесни, Кенни simple:Kenny Chesney fi:Kenny Chesney sv:Kenny Chesney

Name	Gretchen Wilson
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Gretchen Frances Wilson
Born	June 26, 1973
Origin	Pocahontas, Illinois
Instrument	VocalsAcoustic guitar
Genre	Country, Country-rock
Occupation	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2004–present
Label	Epic NashvilleColumbia NashvilleRedneck Records
Associated acts	MuzikMafiaBig & Rich, Kenny Chesney
Website	GretchenWilson.com }}

Gretchen Frances Wilson (born June 26, 1973) is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the ''Billboard'' country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, ''Here for the Party''. Wilson followed this album one year later with ''All Jacked Up'', the title track of which became the highest-debuting single for a female country artist upon its 2005 release. A third album, ''One of the Boys'', was released in 2007.

Overall, Wilson has charted 13 singles on the ''Billboard'' country charts, of which five have reached Top Ten: the Number One "Redneck Woman", as well as "Here for the Party" (#3, 2004), "When I Think About Cheatin'" (#4, 2004), "Homewrecker" (#2, 2005), and "All Jacked Up" (#8, 2005). The album ''Here for the Party'' was certified 5× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA for sales of five million copies, while ''All Jacked Up'' was certified platinum. She has sold over 6 million records worldwide.

Early life

Gretchen Wilson was born in Pocahontas, Illinois, to a sixteen-year-old mother. Her father left before she was two-years-old, and she and her mother lived in trailer parks and relative poverty. Wilson's mother worked as a waitress, and Wilson, herself, dropped out of the 9th grade, at age fifteen, to work as a cook and bartender in rural Illinois.

Wilson began singing in small bars around the St. Louis, Missouri, area at age fifteen. In 1991, Susie Osburn, a bar manager from Springfield, Missouri, went to St. Louis to find a new house band for her bar, the Townhouse. She found eighteen-year-old Wilson singing Patsy Cline covers so well that Osburn initially thought the singing was coming from a jukebox. Recognizing Wilson's talent, Osburn immediately convinced her and her band, Sam-A-Lama, to move to Springfield and play at the Townhouse. In her biography, Wilson says it was the offer of a lifetime. After playing the Townhouse for two years at six nights a week, Wilson moved back home to Pocahontas, before continuing on to Nashville.

Country music career

''Here for the Party''

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. This song was also the first Number One country hit by a female in two years. The success of "Redneck Woman" prompted an earlier-than-planned release for ''Here for the Party'', 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 to her debut album 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. ''Here for the Party'' was certified 5× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA.

''All Jacked Up''

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 and sold 1 million copies. The title track debuted at #21 on the Hot Country Songs charts, setting a record for the highest debut ever made by a female artist. This record was broken in late 2007 by Carrie Underwood's "So Small". Despite its high debut, however, "All Jacked Up" peaked at #8 on Hot Country Songs after only eight chart weeks. It was also used, at one time, by ESPN as the opening theme for its baseball coverage. Three more singles were released from ''All Jacked Up'': "I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today", "Politically Uncorrect" (a duet with Merle Haggard) and "California Girls", none of which reached Top 20 on the country charts. These latter two singles were issued on Columbia Records, due to the closure of Epic Records's Nashville division.

Wilson'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''.

''One of the Boys''

On May 15, 2007, Wilson 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 10 weeks, it exited the Billboard Top 200, having sold 178,220 copies at that point. "Come to Bed" (a duet with John Rich) and the title track, the first two singles released, both peaked in the thirties on the country charts, while the third and final single ("You Don't Have to Go Home") failed to reach the Top 40.

''I Got Your Country Right Here''

On July 14, 2008, Wilson released a new single, "Don't Do Me No Good". This song was intended to be the lead-off single to a fourth studio album, but it failed to reach the Top 40 and the album was delayed. It was followed in 2009 by two more singles, "The Earrings Song" and "If I Could Do It All Again," neither of which entered the charts. Wilson then issued a press release on July 28, 2009, stating that she would be parting with Sony Music Nashville. Wilson then launched Redneck Records, her own record label. "Work Hard, Play Harder" was released to radio on October 26, 2009 as the first single from the label and her fourth studio album, ''I Got Your Country Right Here'', was finally released on March 30, 2010. Her former label, Columbia Nashville, released her first ''Greatest Hits'' album on January 19, 2010, to finish off her recording contract.

Other ventures

Rock Music

While a country singer first and foremost, Gretchen Wilson has also attracted favorable attention for her rendition of classic rock songs by Heart - a group which she sees as "one of the biggest influences on my musical career.". She has appeared several times on the same stage as lead singer Ann Wilson and guitarist Nancy Wilson, once describing the experience as "beyond a dream come true". She has sung "Straight On", "Crazy on You", and - most notably - "Barracuda", which she performed with Alice in Chains and Nancy Wilson on guitar at the 2007 VH1 Rock Honors.

Personal life

After a failed marriage to former Baywolfe bandmate Larry Rolens, she moved to Nashville and began dating Mike Penner. They have a daughter, Grace Frances Penner, who was born on November 9, 2000. Gracie is the only child. In 1996, she moved to Nashville to sing back-up and record samples. In 2000, she met John Rich, a member of Big & Rich, who invited her to become his songwriting partner. In 2007, she completed the GED program. As of 2009 she lives in Lebanon, Tennessee.

A lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals, Wilson sang the national anthem in Game 4 of the 2004 World Series at Busch Stadium. She even did a reworked version of her biggest hit, ''Redneck Woman'', entitled, ''Redbird Fever'', in honor of the Cardinals.

Lawsuit

On July 31, 2008, The Black Crowes filed a lawsuit against Wilson for copyright violation, alleging that her song "Work Hard, Play Harder" copied the Crowes song "Jealous Again". Also included in the suit were her label Sony BMG, her publishing company, and the cable network TNT, which has been using the song in commercials. There is no resolution at present; however, Crowes manager Pete Angelus has stated that he expects a quick resolution without litigation.

Activism

Politics

Gretchen Wilson sang the National Anthem (blended with a voice-over of the Pledge of Allegiance) to a national audience at the Republican National Convention on September 3, 2008, later describing this as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience at an "historic moment". Wilson and her band also performed during a rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 22, 2008 to an enthusiastic crowd of approximately 12,000 supporters. Palin started the rally by exclaiming that she couldn't wait to get Wilson's autograph. Wilson played a version of the Heart song "Barracuda" for Palin.

Charities and Public Service

Gretchen Wilson has been active in support for children's charities, adult education, and the fight against obesity. Initiatives to date include: (1) Raising over $1.5 million through benefit performances for children’s charities, such as St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. (2) Serving as national spokesperson for Country Bands Together, a national obesity education and counseling/support campaign sponsored by Allergan. (3) Advocacy for adult education, including testimony before Congress on the value and importance of support for adult learners.

Sports

In April 2010, Wilson released a customized version of "Work Hard, Play Harder" in honor of the National Hockey League's Nashville Predators, with reworked lyrics mentioning the team and its fans. She also sponsors a women's softball team in Pierron, Illinois.

Awards

2005 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year

2004 ACM Top Female Vocalist

2004 ACM Top New Artist

2004 CMA Horizon Award

2004 Grammy Award Best Female Country Vocal Performance

Grammy Award history

{|class="wikitable" |- style="background:#dddddd;" !Category!!Genre!!Album or Song!!Year!!Result |- |- style="background:#88ff88;" |Best Country Female Vocal Performance |Country |"Redneck Woman" |2005 |Won |- |Best New Artist |General |N/A |2005 |Nominated |- |Best Country Song |Country |"Redneck Woman" |2005 |Nominated |- |Best Country Album |Country |''Here for the Party'' |2005 |Nominated |- |Best Country Album |Country | ''All Jacked Up'' |2006 |Nominated |- |Best Female Country Vocal Performance |Country |"All Jacked Up" |2006 |Nominated |- |Best Country Song |Country | "All Jacked Up" |2006 |Nominated |- |Best Country Collaboration w/ Vocals |Country | "Politically Uncorrect" |2006 |Nominated |- |Best Female Country Vocal Performance |Country |"I'd Love To Be Your Last" |2011 |Nominated |}

Discography

''Here for the Party'' (2004)

''All Jacked Up'' (2005)

''One of the Boys'' (2007)

''I Got Your Country Right Here'' (2010)

References

External links

Gretchen Wilson official site

Gretchen Wilson at CMT

Gibson.com interview with Gretchen Wilson by Ellen Mallernee *Gretchen Wilson at the Internet Movie Database

Category:1973 births Category:American country singers Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:American female singers Category:Columbia Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Musicians from Illinois Category:Living people Category:People from Bond County, Illinois Category:Epic Records artists

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