What happened to Gretchen Wilson? From "Redneck Woman" to now
What happened to Gretchen Wilson is a story of resilience and triumph in country music. After health struggles and a long hiatus, she made a stunning comeback, winning Season 13 of The Masked Singer under the name Pearl. Her win was revealed in May 2025, reintroducing her other side to fans.
I'm gritty, raw, unapologetic. I've always been that way.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Gretchen Wilson's profile summary
- A look at what happened to Gretchen Wilson
- Exploring Gretchen Wilson's music career
- About Gretchen Wilson's accident and illness
- A look into Gretchen Wilson's net worth
- Exploring Gretchen Wilson's age and early life
- About Gretchen Wilson's relationships and children
- Trivia
- Conclusion
Key takeaways
- Gretchen Wilson made her major music comeback when she participated and won Season 13 of The Masked Singer in 2025.
- She suffered multiple health setbacks, including contracting COVID-19 and shattering her ankle.
- The Redneck Woman hitmaker has openly shared embracing a new, more glamorous image beyond her gritty, raw, and unapologetic persona.
- She has a daughter named Gracie Frances Penner, born on November 9, 2000.
Gretchen Wilson's profile summary
| Full name | Gretchen Frances Wilson |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | June 6, 1973 |
| Age | 52 years old (as of 2025) |
| Place of birth | Pocahontas, Illinois, United States |
| Current residence | Lebanon, Tennessee, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches |
| Weight | 58 kg (approx) |
| Mother | Christine |
| Siblings | Josh Malter |
| Relationship status | Divorced |
| Ex-husband | Larry Rolens |
| Children | Gracie Frances Penner |
| Profession | Country music singer and songwriter |
| Net worth | $4 million |
| Social media | InstagramFacebookYouTube |
A look at what happened to Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson made a strong comeback in 2025 by winning Season 13 of The Masked Singer. The renowned country singer took a hiatus after suffering a series of mishaps that could have driven her career to the brink.
Gretchen revealed her comeback, despite being over 50, during a red carpet appearance at Country Now. She said,
I mean, I’m over 50 and I’m still out there working. I’m still relevant. I mean, life doesn’t get much better than this over 50.
Source: Original
Exploring Gretchen Wilson then and now: what changed?
Gretchen was then known as the tough, no-nonsense "Redneck Woman". The country music star rose to fame with her signature hit and gritty country style, often seen without makeup and embodying a girl-next-door, rough-and-tumble persona.
Wilson has now embraced a significant comeback, softening her public image by showing a more "girly" and glamorous side that fans rarely saw. She talked about the evolution of her public image in an interview with People magazine. She said,
I’ve had to spend a lot of time being that rough and tumble, girl next door, no dresses, no makeup, just be kind of plain Jane kind of girl.
This is an opportunity for me to be a side of me that I don't often get to show because it's not what people are expecting from me.
Exploring Gretchen Wilson's music career
Wilson's music career began with a breakout hit, Redneck Woman, in 2004, which topped the country charts and made her an instant star. Her debut album, Here for the Party, was one of her best-selling albums, selling over 5 million copies.
In 2009, she launched her label, Redneck Records. She has released seven studio albums, including hit songs like:
- Here for the Party
- When I Think About Cheatin'
- Homewrecker
- All Jacked Up
- I Don't Feel Like Loving You Today
- Work Hard, Play Harder
Source: Getty Images
Why did Gretchen Wilson quit singing?
Gretchen did not quit singing, but she took a major break from 2013 to 2017 to spend time with her daughter and burnout from years of intense touring. She said,
I feel like everything got wore out, not just vocally, but I, just physically, got wore out, and I needed a little time off. But that time gave me the [desire] to get creative, too ... It gave me time to think.
About Gretchen Wilson's accident and illness
Gretchen Wilson suffered a severe leg injury when she shattered her left leg while dancing Ring Around the Rosie at a wedding reception. The accident left her wheelchair-bound for about eight months while she wore a cast and underwent a long recovery process.
In an interview with Taste of Country Nights, Gretchen recalled the dreadful accident. She said,
They had thrown one of those Astroturf carpeting things over the sand. I was circle dancing with a six-year-old boy to ‘Ring Around the Rosie,’ and doing the spin at 100 mph when my ankle twisted in one of the holes. It was ugly.
Source: Getty Images
Gretchen Wilson's illness
Gretchen Wilson suffered from severe health issues following an early case of COVID-19, which left her with high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and asthma. However, there are no health updates revealing that she has cancer.
During an interview with Fox News Digital, Gretchen discussed her experience with COVID-19. She revealed,
So, I got COVID. I was one of the very first to get it, and it was a heck of a round. It left me with high blood pressure, shortness of breath, asthma — all of which I still have.
A look into Gretchen Wilson's net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gretchen Wilson has an estimated fortune of $4 million. Her wealth primarily stems from album sales, music royalties, tours, and concert performances.
Exploring Gretchen Wilson's age and early life
Gretchen, whose full name is Gretchen Frances Wilson (age 52 in 2025), was born in Pocahontas, Illinois, USA, on June 26, 1973. She grew up in a challenging environment that prompted her to drop out of high school and work as a cook.
Source: Getty Images
About Gretchen Wilson's relationships and children
Gretchen Wilson is reportedly single. However, she was allegedly married to bandmate Larry Rolens, but they called off their marriage. She welcomed her daughter, Gracie Frances Penner, along with her ex-boyfriend, Michael Penner, on November 9, 2000.
Trivia
- Gretchen has had multiple controversies, including disrupting peace during a flight and in a hotel.
- Wilson supports various charitable organisations, especially in the health and education sectors.
- She gained fame for a blue-collar, no-nonsense persona that resonated widely.
Conclusion
What happened to Gretchen Wilson proves that talent and determination never fade. Her victory on The Masked Singer marked a powerful return. Now, Wilson balances mentoring, touring, and embracing new artistic sides.
READ MORE: Is Reba McEntire deaf?
Briefly.co.za shared an article about Reba McEntire, a prominent pop country singer-songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, nicknamed the Queen of Country.
There are online rumours that the singer secretly wears hearing aids, but this rumour likely stems from fans spotting her with in-ear monitors commonly used by singers.
Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
