Gretchen Wilson Talks About Life, Success and Celebrity in 'Gretchen Wilson Uncut: 60 Minutes Special' March 5 on CMT

NASHVILLE, TN. (CMT) - GRETCHEN WILSON UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL premieres exclusively on CMT Saturday, March 5 at 10:30-11:00 PM, ET/PT* with never-before-seen footage from self-proclaimed redneck woman Gretchen Wilson's in-depth interview with "60 Minutes" correspondent Ed Bradley. Wilson, who picked up her first Grammy Award in Los Angeles Sunday night, besting veterans Alison Krauss, Loretta Lynn, Martina McBride and Shania Twain, in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category, speaks candidly about the struggles of her youth including family alcoholism and dropping out of school. In addition, a teary-eyed Wilson talks about her beloved grandmother and the irony that Wilson's daughter was conceived at almost the exact moment Wilson's grandmother passed away.

"Her voice was unbelievable - just tear your face off," says "Redneck Woman" co-writer and MuzikMafia pal John Rich who talks with Bradley about first hearing Wilson perform in a Nashville bar on the CMT original special GRETCHEN WILSON UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL. It is that voice that delivered Sunday night's Grammy to Wilson, who adds it to her American Music Awards and CMA Awards trophies for Best New Artist.

Gretchen Wilson, undeniably the music success story of 2004, talks about life, celebrity and her meteoric rise to fame and takes Bradley on her tour bus for a trip down her road to success with stops in her hometown of Pocahontas, Ill. and Nashville.

On GRETCHEN WILSON UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL, Wilson comments on moving constantly in her early years. "We couldn't make the rent, so we'd move. Most of the time [we lived in] trailers." The moves forced her to attend about 20 schools before finally dropping out in the eighth grade to work with her mother in a bar. Wilson takes correspondent Ed Bradley back to that very tavern where her journey began, playing guitar, singing and occasionally even bouncing out unruly patrons. Musical success was finally realized when her debut album, "Here For The Party," debuted at No. 1 on the country chart where it remained for a phenomenal nine consecutive weeks. "Here For The Party," only on shelves since May 11, 2004, scanned almost three million units cementing her as the top-selling debut artist of any genre for 2004 - not too bad for the tobacco chewing, whiskey-drinking upstart from Pocahontas.

Success hasn't changed the singer. Wilson tells Bradley, "I'm just a simple, ordinary woman. I think that's a lot of the reason why people have really connected with me. I am just like them. The only difference between me and a lot of the women that come to my shows is that I can sing. That's the only difference."
For more information on "GRETCHEN WILSON UNCUT: 60 MINUTES SPECIAL," visit CMT.com. https://www.cmt.com/shows/