‘Redneck Woman' Gretchen Wilson to perform at Midnight Rodeo on Saturday
In 2004, Gretchen Wilson was the biggest story in music. Hands down.
That year, the relatively unknown Pocahontas, Ill., native released the album “Here For the Party,” anchored by the rowdy single “Redneck Woman.” Here's what followed:
“Redneck Woman” spent six weeks at No. 1 on the country charts; it also gained much pop/rock crossover attention.
The single was voted Anthem of the Summer of 2004 on billboard.com.
“Here For the Party” sold more than five million copies. Wilson set a record as the first artist with a debut album to enter the charts at No. 1 on the country chart and No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200.
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She won awards: Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year, American Music Awards' Breakthrough Favorite New Artist (all genres), Billboard Music Awards' Female Country Artist of the Year and New Country Artist of the Year, Grammy Awards' Best Country Female Vocal Performance for “Redneck Woman” and CMT's Breakthrough Video of the Year, Academy of Country Music Awards.
Her book, “Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life,” was a New York Times best-seller.
Next stop?
Ocala.
Touring behind her latest single, “Work Hard, Play Harder,” Wilson is scheduled to perform at Midnight Rodeo on Saturday.
“We've sold a lot of tickets already. They've really been moving quick,” said Dave Emrick, president of Midnight Rodeo parent company Godrick Entertainment. On Monday, he said about half the tickets had been sold for the 1,000-capacity concert; that's significant, he said, because people in this area tend to buy tickets at the last minute, not weeks before the show.
Wilson will perform on Valentine's Day weekend, which, from a market standpoint, works very well, noted Shane Finch, program director for Ocala country station WTRS-FM, a sponsor for the concert. Powered by “Redneck Woman,” Wilson has a substantial appeal for women (who love the song and the 'tude) and men (who dig that whole pretty-bad-girl thing).
“She's a unique act,” Finch said. “On Valentine's Day weekend, it's going to be a great show.”
Finch well remembers 2004. When “Redneck Woman” hit the airwaves, studio phone lines rarely stopped ringing. People wanted to hear that song by this unknown singer and, Finch said, they wanted to know where and when they could get the CD.
“It was hot,” he recalled. Problem was, the single arrived well ahead of the CD. When “Here For the Party” finally hit the shelves, fans pounced on it.
Thus, it was country's No. 1 selling record for nine weeks, according to Billboard, setting a record and shooting Wilson into the stratosphere. Her follow-up CDs did not perform as well as the debut, but “as well” is a relative term; her sophomore offering, “All Jacked Up,” went platinum.
And Finch said Wilson's music still is a major player in the studio. People often call to request “Redneck Woman,” “All Jacked Up” and “Homewrecker.”
Wilson could not be reached for comment, but on her Web site, she writes: “The reason I've been successful is that I've been genuine from the get-go, and I continue to try to do that. I'm an open book.
“When it comes to the music, 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.”
The new single, “Work Hard, Play Harder,” is from her upcoming CD “I Got Your Country Right Here,” scheduled for release on March 30. She co-produced the CD with John Rich, of Big & Rich, and award-winning producer Blake Chancey.
But the CD also marks another notch in Wilson's career crown: It will be released on Redneck Records, the label she now owns.
Contact Dave Schlenker at 867-4120 or go@starbanner.com.
When: 9:30 p.m. Saturday Where: Midnight Rodeo, 718 S. Pine Ave., Ocala Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door (if available) Information: 369-4014 or www.myspace.com/ocalamidnightrodeo