NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Gretchen Wilson Earns GED

Gretchen Wilson Earns GED

LEBANON, Tenn. - Country music singer/songwriter Gretchen Wilson, who received a Grammy for "Redneck Woman," received her high school diploma Thursday night.

Wilson earned her general equivalency diploma from the Adult Learning Center of Wilson County. Ninety one people from Wilson and Davidson counties will graduate during a ceremony at First Baptist Church in Lebanon, a city about 30 miles east of Nashville.

Wilson's class includes people age 17-70.

Wilson dropped out of school in the ninth grade. After becoming a mother, she started looking at her life and wanted to set a good example for her daughter.

"This is something I promised myself a long time ago I would do," Wilson said. "I'm sure the fact I have a little girl in school is part of it. I want to be able to help her with her homework when the time comes."

"Her first single, 'Redneck Woman,' spent six weeks at No. 1 and her debut album, "Here For The Party," sold more than 5 million copies," according to her Web site. "She has won several awards including a Grammy and ACM, CMA and AMA nods for best female vocalist. Her second CD, 'All Jacked Up' went platinum."

She is currently in the studio, writing and recording for her forthcoming new release. The lead-off single is expected to hit country radio this spring.

Tennessee's Department of Labor and Workforce Development reports 20 percent of working-age adults in the state do not have a high school diploma or 1.2 million people.