"Redneck Woman" Goes Back to School

Posted by amyclark on 08/25/2008
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5/5/2008 Kasey Bell Gretchen Wilson Gets GED Country Music singer Gretchen Wilson has it all.  She’s won a Grammy, a No. 1 single, an album that has sold over 4 million copies and 400 acres in Wilson County, Tennessee.  However, until recently, there was one thing this "Redneck Woman" didn’t have: a high school diploma. The 34-year-old Country Music artist passed her General Education Development exam this past April, along with her 21-year-old cousin Matt Simmonds, who didn’t have enough credits to graduate high school.  Gretchen dropped out of school the same time she left her family, which was controlled by her verbally and physically abusive father.  After that, she moved to Illinois, taking a job as a waitress, and working on her career. From there, the rest is almost history.  The aspiring Country singer moved to Nashville, where she was discovered by Big & Rich.  After that, Gretchen Wilson released her debut album and was soon everywhere, from TV shows to sporting events. The problem came years later when Gretchen tried to bring her young daughter, Grace, along with her on tour.  Wilson could not sign the proper home-schooling papers because she had not finished high school.  That event, plus being a good example to her daughter, made her make up her mind that she had to go back to school. “I don’t want to be the dummy that says ‘I don’t know how to do that,’” Gretchen said.  “And I certainly don’t want her to think you can be successful without an education.” Gretchen began spending a lot of her downtime on the road studying for the test.  After all the studying, Gretchen’s hard work paid off, and she passed her GED, something she is very proud of. “It’s something that I should have done a long time ago , and now I can file it away,” she said.  “I’m just walking a little taller.” Gretchen and her cousin Matt will take part in a May 15 Wilson County graduation ceremony.  After that, who knows what’s next? Maybe even college. “I might do it,” Gretchen said.  “But if I did, I’d do a home-school course , like those ones you see Sally Struthers doing on TV. Source: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805040391.