“Redneck Woman” Gretchen Wilson Finally Gets High School Diploma
And no, this isn’t going to be a post where I pull out stale jokes about how stupid rednecks are. It’s a positive thing that country singer Gretchen Wilson decided to finish her high school education:
Despite all her successes, the 34-year-old singer and songwriter was one of 20 percent of Tennesseans without a high school diploma. But no longer.
Wilson, who dropped out in ninth grade, passed her General Educational Development exam in April and will don a cap and gown during a May 15 graduation ceremony.
Wilson told The Tennessean that her 7-year-old daughter was the big reason to finally finish, saying, “I certainly don’t want her to think you can be this successful without an education.”
Good on her. I’m serious. Too many of our young people are dropping out of high school without finishing their educations, which seriously limits their chances of going on to college and at furthering themselves in the workplace. Too many high school dropouts are ending up on welfare or hooked on drugs. Certain entertainers have perpetuated (as part of their tough image) the thinking that you don’t need education to be successful; but the truth is that nearly a third of high school students drop out before graduating, are three times more likely to be unemployed, and are eight times more likely to be incarcerated.
On a related note, my kids and I happened to see Gretchen at a free concert last year. They were surprised at how little she was…we were watching the jumbo screens and you could barely see her on the long stage shots. This is a seriously tiny woman!
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Kudos. Doubly hard I imagine to do this in the limelight.
Comment by G — May 5, 2008 @ 9:58 am
[...] May 15 …The Juice: Pop smarts and just plain cool… - http://blogs.tampabay.com/juice/|||“Redneck Woman†Gretchen Wilson Finally Gets High School DiplomaIt’sa positive thing that country singer Gretchen Wilson decided to finish her high school [...]
Pingback by gretchen wilson | shelley — May 5, 2008 @ 11:56 pm
hey gretchen, congratchulations on your ged i am going to follow your footsteps.
four biggest fan,
paula feeback
Comment by paula feeback — May 6, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
congratchulations………….!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by paula feeback — May 6, 2008 @ 12:25 pm