Nov. 16, 2005—Eighteen months ago, Gretchen Wilson was a hopeful new artist, dreaming of someday becoming a country superstar. Someday came very soon for Gretchen, whose debut single, "Redneck Woman," shot up the charts at breakneck speed, spending six weeks at No. 1 (the longest stay at the top of the charts by a debut female country artist since 1964). Her first album, 2004's Here For The Party, quickly went quadruple platinum—in less than a year. Her second CD, All Jacked Up, went platinum in less than two months, and suddenly the road was Gretchen's middle name.
She hit the road almost immediately, opening shows for Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Martina McBride and Brooks & Dunn last year. Last fall, she co-headlined a tour with her fellow MuzikMafia members Big & Rich, and in early '05, she was back on the Kenny Chesney tour. You might think this now road-veteran would be ready for a break, right? Not even close!
Last week Gretchen invited the Nashville media out to the official MuzikMafia headquarters—Fontanel, the former home of country legend Barbara Mandrell—to talk about her newest traveling show, the Redneck Revolution tour. This time, she's the sole headliner, supported by southern rock legends and now new country duo Van Zant, and country newcomer Blaine Larsen.
Gretchen, Johnny and Donnie Van Zant, and Blaine all gathered at Fontanel (also christened "The Plowboy Mansion" by the MuzikMafia) talk about how the tour came to be.
"It was one of those things that kind of fell into place," said Gretchen, as she and her touring mates sat down near the great room's roaring fireplace. "You kind of have to look at who’s ready to go out there at the same time you are, and who is going to appeal to the same fan base that you appeal to. I grew up listening to southern rock—not at the same time as these guys, but in a very similar way. So I knew immediately that it was going to hit home with the people who buy my records."
Johnny, Donnie and Blaine had been sitting on the good news for roughly two months, unable to say anything until the official press conference. "When I got the phone call that I was going to get to do this tour, I was literally jumping up in the air going, "I can't believe this!'" admitted Blaine. "I just wanted to scream it out, but I had to keep it under wraps."
"We're very excited," said Donnie, who's taken time off from his band, .38 Special, to record an album with brother Johnny. "We get to go out with Gretchen Wilson—are you kidding?! Plus, she's absolutely gorgeous," he adds with a smile.
"It's been a whirlwind year for us," added Johnny, who's on hiatus from his regular band, Lynyrd Skynyrd. "We've been wanting to make a country record for years."
The Redneck Revolution tour kicks of January 18 in Dallas, Tex., and runs through April. It'll be another test of endurance for Gretchen, who earlier this year, took some time off when she began having vocal problems, most likely brought on by the endless days on the road. This time out, Gretchen says she's doing things a little differently.
"I’m going to start warming up [my voice before shows]," she says. "I’ve never done that before."
"Me too," states Johnny, who underwent vocal surgery eight weeks earlier because of more serious problems. "I had a polyp on my left vocal cord, and underneath that they found a cyst," he says. "So I was kind of messed up and didn’t realize it. But now I’ve got highs I didn’t know I had."
Both Johnny and Gretchen have been going to the Vanderbilt Voice Center to learn how to properly care for their voices. "We're both going to the same doctor," says Gretchen. " He’s a specialist, this doctor. He’s a pro. Obviously, he doesn’t know what it’s like to be out on the road and to live that life, but he does know how to take care of your voice. How to do things maybe just a little bit different than you used to do that will help save you. Because this is our life.
"If you stop and think about it, it’s very difficult for a singer to get sick," she continues. "Nobody wants to hear that. You’re disappointing a lot of people. Just something like a little cold can devastate a lot of people. And out on the road, we support a lot of people. There are a lot of families that are depending on us to be healthy and strong every night. So I think we should pat ourselves on the back for going in and taking the time to learn how to take care of ourselves."
Five days after this press conference, lots of folks were patting Gretchen on the back. She took home the award for Female Vocalist of the Year—a nice companion award to the CMA Horizon Award she won last year. But as she sat in the Plowboy Mansion contemplating her incredible, still-exploding career—and her chances of winning another CMA award—she kept it all in perspective.
"I never go into any of these things with any expectations," says Gretchen of awards shows. "I go to be entertained, just like I always have been, watching it on TV all my life. To be able to win awards really is just icing on the cake. It’s recognition, I think, first and foremost, that really comes out of these awards shows—just being recognized and respected for what you do. I’m excited about going to New York this year. I don’t know what to say to New York City except, ‘The hillbillies are coming to town!’"
And the Redneck Revolution is hitting the road. Gretchen graciously returns the praise her new touring mates have been heaping on her. "I grew up listening to the great music that the Van Zants have blessed us with," she says. "I think I’m really lucky to be able to have them out on tour with me. It’s a very familiar sound that feels like home to me. And the first time I heard Blaine on the radio, he blew me away. And then I saw him live and thought, ‘Man, that’s the real deal.’
"So I think I’ve got the best package there is right now out there," she says with a smile.
The Redneck Revolution Tour Schedule:
1/18 - Dallas, TX - Nokia Theater at Grand Prairie
1/19 - Bossier City, LA - CenturyTel Center
1/20 - Montgomery, AL - Garrett Coliseum
1/21 - Greeneville, SC - Bi-Lo Center
1/26 - Chattanooga, TN - Univ. Tenn. Chattanooga McKenzie Arena
1/27 - Columbia, SC - Colonial Center
2/1 - Roanoke, VA - Roanoke Civic Center
2/3 - Winston-Salem, NC - L-J-V-M Coliseum
2/4 - Savannah, GA - Savannah Civic Center
2/10 - Colorado Springs, CO - World Arena
2/12 - Lubbock, TX - United Spirit Arena
2/23 - Lexington, KY - Rupp Arena
2/24 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
3/1 - Mankato, MN - Midwest Wireless Civic Center
3/2 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
3/3 - Terre Haute, IN - I-S-U Hulman Center
3/8 - Huntington, WV - Big Sandy Superstore Arena
3/10 - Trenton, NJ - Sovereign Bank Arena
3/11 - Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center
3/23 - Tulsa, OK - Tulsa Convention Center Arena
3/25 - Tupelo, MS - Bancorp South Center
3/26 - Carbondale, IL - Southern Illinois University
3/31 - Columbus, OH - Value City Arena - Schottenstein Center
4/1 - Evansville, IN - Roberts Stadium
4/2 - Cincinnati, OH - US Bank Arena
4/5 - Atlanta, GA - The Arena at Gwinnett Center
4/6 - Gainesville, FL - Stephen O'Connell Center
4/7 - Columbus, GA - Columbus Civic Center
4/8 - Tallahassee, FL - Tallahassee - Leon County Civic Center
4/27 - Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center at C-S-U
4/28 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center
4/29 - Southaven, MS - Desoto Civic Center
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