NASHVILLE, TN. (Sony
Music Nashville) -
Gretchen Wilson made her network television debut singing her smash hit "
Redneck Woman" on the Academy of Country
Music Awards in 2004. One year later she not only won trophies for Best New Artist and Top Female Vocalist at this week's ACM Awards in Las Vegas, she also became the first artist in the 40-year history of the organization to win both awards in the same year.
Gretchen and her 3/4 Ton Band opened the ACM Awards with a rousing version of the title cut from her debut album Here For The Party complete with pyrotechnics. The next time her name was announced from stage was for the Best New Artist Award. Toward the end of the show, Gretchen was visibly shaken when her name was read as the Top Female Vocalist - a category that included her friend and three-time winner Martina McBride.
"I don't even know what to say," she said while fighting back tears. "I don't even really know what to say, except for thank you. Thank you so much to the fans. Thank you to my record company for believing in me. I never expected this. I never expected it in one short year, to be able to accomplish this. I just love each and every one of you so much. From the bottom of my heart, I appreciate this so much."
Famed jeweler Johnathon Arndt again loaned Gretchen magnificent jewels to wear for the day including an incredible ring with three squares of diamonds pyramiding up to a large yellow diamond valued at $2.7 million. She also wore a diamond bangle bracelet valued at over $50,000. After the show Mr. Arndt gave Gretchen a set of her trademark silver hoop ear rings, only these were encrusted with diamonds.
The ACM Awards hold a special place in Gretchen's heart. Her latest single "Homewrecker" hit No 1 this week, and her debut single "Redneck Woman" was at the top of the country charts during the award ceremonies last year. Also, one year ago Here For The Party was in is second week atop the Billboard Country Albums Chart - a spot it held for a record-breaking nine consecutive weeks. The album was certified quadruple platinum in March for selling in excess of four million units.
Gretchen and her band left Las Vegas almost immediately following the awards show and bussed to Los Angeles overnight for an appearance on The Ellen Degeneres Show. At Ellen's request, she performed "Redneck Woman" on the show, which will air Monday, May 23. Check local listings for exact air times.
Gretchen returns to the studio this week to put the finishing touches on her next album All Jacked Up, which hits stores September 27, 2005. She heads back out on Kenny Chesney's Somewhere in the Sun Tour next weekend with sold- out dates in Columbus, Ohio and Philadelphia.
