NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Country music sensation
Gretchen Wilson has signed a major deal with Warner Books. Slated to appear
in November 2006, GRETCHEN WILSON: I'll Tell You What a Redneck Woman Is
will feature Wilson's incredible rags to riches story and offer up a
comprehensive roadmap to living the fun, independent and empowering life of
a Redneck Woman. The deal was brokered by Mel Berger of the William Morris
Agency and Colin Fox of Warner Books.
    Raised by a single mom in rural Illinois, Wilson's formal education
concluded in the eighth grade when she traded books for tending bar at Big
O's, a rough and tumble joint on the outskirts of Pocahontas, IL. By the
time she was 15, Gretchen was managing the place with the help of a loaded
12-gauge behind the bar to keep folks in line. Though he was long gone,
Wilson's father had instilled a love of music in his daughter that
blossomed on stage at Big O's where she found herself fronting a cover band
and eyeing a move to Nashvillian search of something more.
    Another town, struggling in another bar job, but again her gift for
music won out. Discovered while singing with the house band at a bar in
Nashville's famed Printer's Alley, Gretchen Wilson soon joined the ranks of
the Muzik Mafia and the rest is history. In less than one calendar year she
went from worrying about the repossession of her car to being one of the
most successful recording stars in the world.
    Wilson's 2004 debut album "Here for the Party" (Sony BMG) was certified
quadruple platinum and established her as the top-selling debut artist of
the year for any genre. Record sales mixed with rave reviews and Gretchen
went on to win both a Grammy for Top Female Country Song of the Year and
the Country Music Awards Horizon Award. Her 2005 follow-up "All Jacked Up"
(Sony BMG) debuted at #1 on both the overall Billboard list and the
Billboard Country Album chart and led to top female vocalist awards for
2005 from the CMAs and the American Music Awards.
    Co-written by acclaimed and New York Times bestselling author Allen
Rucker, GRETCHEN WILSON: I'll Tell You What a Redneck Woman Is will cover
this inspiring All-American success story while providing a fun, and
insightful look in on the kind of strength, will and humor that have
allowed Wilson to reclaim the term "Redneck" and recast it as a point of
pride for millions of her fans. Whether she discusses her fashion
preferences (Wal-Mart over Victoria's Secret), her choice of beer over
champagne, her views on family, or the artists who've helped carve out the
path she currently walks (Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard,
etc.), Wilson's signature knack for storytelling and connecting with her
audience on that authentically real level translates seamlessly to the page
and offers a new and exciting glimpse at one of America's most beloved
performers.
    Ms. Wilson had the following to say about her debut on the page: "More
than anything else, I wanted to write this book just to be able to connect
on a different level with my fans. I haven't had a chance to talk to them
like this yet!" And Warner Publisher, Jamie Raab added, "We are very
excited about publishing Gretchen Wilson's book, and feel certain that the
millions of us who love her music will welcome the chance to get to know
her better, and understand what it really means to be a Redneck Woman."