The singer Gretchen Wilson recently spoke out to reveal why the former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood scared “every woman in country music” when she came onto the scene.
Cutthroat World Of Country Music
Back in 2004, Wilson finally achieved the success that she’d dreamed of for years with her hit song “Redneck Woman.” The song spent five weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which was huge for Wilson, as she’d long felt unappreciated in the mainstream country world.
Then came Underwood with her hit song “When I Think About Cheatin.’” This song would ultimately knock “Redneck Woman” off the top of the charts.
Country music radio was a cutthroat world in the early 2000s, particularly among female artists. The singer Terri Clark recently recalled hearing “Redneck Woman” for the first time.
“That one kind of got me a little bit. I’m like, ‘Damn it,’” Clark told Taste Of Country. “I love Gretchen, and really happy for her, but that was kind of a, ‘Woo, wow. I better strap on my seatbelt.’”
Related: Country Star Gretchen Wilson, 51, Brags About Being In Tons Of Bar Fights – ‘I’m Nasty That Way’
Wilson’s Fear Of Underwood
Wilson can certainly relate to this feeling herself.
“I had those moments, you know, whenever Carrie Underwood came along,” she said. “Oh, boy. You know.”
“I think every woman in country music probably had a little bit of fear when that voice came out,” Wilson continued, referring to Underwood. “I mean, she’s also a force to be reckoned with — powerhouse of a singer. But … I don’t know that I was very fearful, just ’cause we’re so different. I felt like, ‘Okay, she’s gonna own that slicker side of country music.’ And that just kind of made me want to get rougher.”
Despite the competition between them, Wilson still actively supported Underwood. Wilson explained that Clark did the same thing for her when she was starting out.
“Terri brought my first time playing the Ryman. She brought me, like, four bottles of whiskey and a whole case of Skoal,” Wilson recalled. “So she must not have disliked me too much.”
Thankfully, there has since become room in the country music world for Underwood, Wilson, and Clark to all shine.
Related: Carrie Underwood Suffers Brutal Fall Onstage As Rain Pours Down At Carolina Country Music Fest
Wilson Reveals Mistake Young Artists Make
In another recent interview, Wilson was asked what common mistake she sees young artists make in the country music industry.
“I mean for me— and maybe it’s because I’m an old lady, I’m 51 years old — I feel like they share too much,” Wilson replied. “There’s no exclusivity to being an artist anymore because everybody shares everything about themselves.”
“Maybe I’m too boring, but, you will not see me on my social … I only say things when there’s things to be said,” she added. “I’m not getting up going, ‘Well, today I’m going to do this.’”
We’re so glad to see that Wilson was able to get over her fears of Underwood and move past it. In the end, we’re all better off with both of them creating incredible music that the rest of us can enjoy!
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