gretchen | Join the Mob

Gretchen Wilson

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LOCATION

Nashville, TN

GENRE

Country

MY LINKS

Official Site

Myspace

Gretchen Wilson

"The reason I've been successful is that I've been genuine from the get-go," she says, "and I continue to try to do that. I'm an open book." It helps that the identity she wears so guilelessly is one that resonates strongly with fans of country and Southern rock--the independent, take-no-guff, hard-working and hard-partying country woman. Gretchen's ability to inhabit that persona publicly, as well as her flair for tailoring songs as gorgeously rough-edged as she is, have given her the kind of "I am what I sing" originality few women in country music history--Loretta, Tammy, Dolly and Tanya chief among them--have ever been able to achieve. Set as it was within the broader scope of the Muzik Mafia, a talented and audaciously original ensemble, and like-minded entertainers from Kid Rock to Hank Jr., her rise was part of a genuine musical and cultural groundswell. Her first single, "Redneck Woman," spent six weeks at #1; her debut album, Here For The Party, sold more than five million copies; she won across-the-board awards including a Grammy and ACM, CMA and AMA nods for best female vocalist; and she toured to large and raucous crowds around the world. Her second CD, All Jacked Up, rode enthusiastic reviews to platinum status as Gretchen's accomplishments continued to stack up. "When it comes to the music," she says, "I get involved on a personal level in everything that counts. I'm involved in the writing, recording, producing, mixing, and promoting of the music, down to which photos we pick and how the lyrics are laid out on the paper. I've been very lucky that way from the beginning in that the people at my label, when it came down to it, have trusted me with my gut on the music." Overall, One Of The Boys is as strong and authentic a musical statement as Gretchen has ever made. "I didn't put a song on this record--didn't even record one--that I didn't think was a great song," she says, "and I believe that lyrically and emotionally they're as true as anything I've ever done. It's just like pages out of a diary--they're really true stories and emotions and feelings and things that happened." Part of its strength lies in Gretchen's ability to dedicate more time to the writing and recording of this project than either of the others. She also drew on the strengths of some of her most cherished songwriting collaborators. The result, she says, "is the most important record I've ever made. It solidifies me as a songwriter, at least to myself, and I'm very hard to please. I am my worst critic."

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