Redneck Woman: Stories from My Life (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Gretchen Wilson (Author), Allen Rucker (Author)
Key Phrases: redneck woman, John Rich, Aunt Vickie, Muzik Mafia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Raised by a single mom in rural Illinois, Gretchen Wilson's formal education concluded in the eighth grade when she traded books for tending bar at Big O's, a rough-and-tumble joint on the outskirts of Pocahontas, IL. By the time she was 15, Gretchen was managing the place with the help of a loaded 12-gauge behind the bar to keep folks in line. Though he was long gone, Wilson's father had instilled a love of music in his daughter that blossomed on stage at Big O's where she found herself fronting a cover band and eyeing a move to Nashville in search of something more.
Another town, struggling in another bar job, but again her gift for music won out. Discovered while singing with the house band at a bar in Nashville's famed Printer's Alley, Gretchen Wilson soon joined the ranks of the Muzik Mafia and the rest is history. In less than one calendar year she went from worrying about the repossession of her car to being one of the most successful recording stars in the world.

Co-written by acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author Allen Rucker, the book will cover this inspiring All-American success story while providing a fun, and insightful look in on the kind of strength, will, and humor that have allowed Wilson to reclaim the term "Redneck" and recast it as a point of pride for millions of her fans. Whether she discusses her fashion preferences (Wal-Mart over Victoria's Secret), her choice of beer over champagne, her views on family, or the artists who've helped her to carve out the path she currently walks (Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, etc.), Wilson's signature knack for storytelling and connecting with her audience on that authentically real level translates seamlessly to the page and offers a new and exciting glimpse at one of America's most beloved performers.

About the Author

Gretchen Wilson lives with her daughter in Nashville, TN.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446401234
• ISBN-13: 978-0446401234
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #800,587 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Half Truths, February 8, 2007

By	CC girl (Carlyle, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Redneck Woman: W/DVD: Stories from My Life (Hardcover)

This book borders a little too much on half truths to be non-fiction. Although I believe it is a well written book, for entertainment value, readers should regard it as entertainment only. I have lived my entire life in the exact territory of Southern Illinois that she describes so poorly. In reality, Pocahontas/Pierron is only a short 10-15 minute drive from a VERY AFFLUENT Highland, IL. It disturbed me that she described this very well maintained piece of country as a poor/destitude area with no economic prospects outside of farming or tending bars! My hometown of Carlyle (not CARLISLE, as is it is often spelled throughout this book) is a stones throw away from all of the towns she describes. Pocahontas/Pierron is a short drive from three college towns; Greenville is home to Greenville College, Lebanon home to McKendree College and Edwardsville home to Southern Illinois University. Opportunity is endless in this neck of the woods, most if not all of my friends are working professionals and YES they still live in the area. Yes, I believe she had a rough way to go, but that is simply not the case for most of the people in this area. I would venture as far to say that there are more over-priveleged children in the area than under, you can make that judgement just by driving through the parking lots of Highland High School/Bond County (Greenville) High School/Carlyle High School. These kids are not driving 76' Ford pick ups they are driving 2000 era model vehicles. Highland High is home to a national award winning cheerleading squad (several years running) not to be stereotypical but that usually is not something you find in the ramshackled,trailor ridden "white trash" (as she so elequontly describes it) neighborhood that she portrays. Yes, Pocahontas/Pierron are small towns with not a lot going for them other than a few bars, however it is not like they are a million miles from nowhere. Plenty of opportunity was out there for herself, her mother and her family outside of farm labor and bartending. There are several factories that pay very good wages in Highland and Breese (another town about 15-20 miles south of Pocahontas). Arrow Group Industries in Breese has been providing an extremely good living for many people in that area as their pay is well above the mininum with extremely good benefits, a short drive to the west in Highland will find you at Basler another well paying job that has provided for many families over the years, both of these employers would have been excellent sources of income for Gretchen's Mother, or even Gretchen herself when she came of age however they made a choice to work in the bar scene. Granted both are factories and require a good hard working ethic, however had she finished high school she probably could have landed herself an even better office job in the area and with a little more work and a college degree her opportunities would have been abundent. Did I forget to mention the very well paying state/federal jobs at the 3 prisons within an hour of this area in each direction. These are not jobs that everyone wants however in times of desperation when you have apparently been limited to eating nothing but Possum for three days (another story I find impossible to believe, a good hunter can kill a couple deer in this area and feed a family for a year) these are jobs that are easily obtainable if you have a little initiative. I drink, I have even spent a couple years of my life serving drinks (while I was raising a child and working my tail off in a factory) however it has been my experience that people that live their lives for the bar, in the bar choose that life.....they refused the opportunities that were right there in front of them to make life better. Gretchen is a great entertainer, but that is just it....her story is entertainment and a far cry from most of the lives people live in this neck of Southern Illinois.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Filling in the blanks., November 9, 2006

By	B. Bowman (Cleveland, TN United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Redneck Woman: W/DVD: Stories from My Life (Hardcover)

If you are a country music fan and a redneck woman like I am, you learn bits and pieces about Gretchen Wilson through some her autobiographical songs and her website. However, this book fills in the blanks and answers the questions you have about Gretchen Wilson, her life and her rise to stardom.

If you are not redneck woman or country music fan, then you need to read this book just to learn about another sub-culture of America that is often misundersood or ignored. It will be an eye opener for you.

5.0 out of 5 stars Gretchen Rocks! She inspires me in so many ways!, February 17, 2009

By	Jessica L. Priem "Jessica Priem Muddychick" (La La Land or Bust!) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Redneck Woman: W/DVD: Stories from My Life (Hardcover)

This was a great bio on Gretchen's life. I was glad to see a lot of pictures (my favorite was naturally her on the ATV during the filiming of the redneck woman video since I'm big time into that). I cut the picture out and keep it with me at all times for inspiration. It has brought me good karma and allows me to speak my mind for some reason. :)

It goes to show that you can start at the bottom and work your way up to the top of the world by speaking your mind and doing what you love to do. I have a great deal of admiration and respect for Gretchen and hope to meet her some day to shoot the breeze about life.

It is no wonder that Redneck woman is one of my favorite karoake songs to sing and this book giving her background info helps me to understand all of the lyrics and how true they really are.