Gretchen Wilson was an instant star when she shined her way into the country scene in 2005 when she released her debut smash hit “Redneck Woman.” The song earned Gretchen her first and only Grammy win and earned her stripes with pre established country legends. Despite her success, the Masked Singer winner briefly stepped away from music after welcoming her daughter, Grace “Gracie” Frances Penner, in 2000.
Life & Style shares a glimpse inside Gretchen’s relationship with her daughter and what she’s said about motherhood.
Gretchen Wilson’s Daughter Grace Inspired Her to Finish School
The Illinois native solely focused on being a mother in her daughter’s first years of life before returning to the music scene in 2004. Gretchen released her debut studio album, Here For the Party, with songs on the track list including “Redneck Woman” and “Here For the Party.”
Despite releasing Grammy-nominated albums All Jacked Up in 2005 and One of the Boys two years later, Gretchen hit the books and earned her General Educational Development (GED) certificate.
During a 2008 interview with People, Gretchen, who dropped out of high school, shared that she decided to go back to school for her daughter. One point she made was having to eventually help Grace with her schoolwork on topics she may not have known herself.
Gretchen Wilson and daughter Grace Gracie Frances Penner.
“I don’t want to be the dummy that says, ‘I don’t know how to do that,’” Gretchen told the outlet. “And I certainly don’t want her to think you can be this successful without an education.”
The Redneck Records founder later told the outlet, “She’s really different than I was when I was a kid … She loves learning and soaking up new things.”
Gretchen Wilson’s Daughter Grace Loves to Read
After obtaining her GED, the “Fake ID” singer immersed herself in books, with kudos to Grace for exposing her mom to her new favorite hobby.
“She’s an excellent reader. She loves reading and that’s something I never did as a kid … you never saw me with my nose in a book,” Gretchen told The Boot in 2010 – Grace was 8 years old at the time. “She’ll turn the TV off and go pick out a book and actually sit down and read three chapters for about an hour-and-a-half, and she just loves it. She gets lost in the stories.”
Gretchen reflected on the nights that she would tell Grace personalized bedtime stories.
“The way I’ve always gotten her to go to sleep at night was I’ve always told her to pick a color, an animal and a place,” the singer explained to the outlet. “She picks the three things, and I start a story. I start to include her things, and by the time I get to the last thing, whether it was out in the middle of a dark jungle or wherever it is, when I hit the third thing, that’s when she stops and takes over in her mind and falls asleep.”
Gretchen Wilson Sang a Mother-Daughter Song
In January 2025, Gretchen hopped on Alli Walker’s song, “First Time Living.”
