Gretchen Wilson Gets Her Diploma

On her way to national prominence, Gretchen Wilson graduated from the school of hard knocks. Now she’s graduated from high school, too.

Gretchen earned her General Education Development diploma in Tennessee’s Wilson County last week in a cap-and-gown ceremony where Charlie Daniels delivered the commencement speech.

"I’m proud of her because she went through the turmoil of getting the diploma at this busy time of her life," Charlie told The Tennessean. "It’s a sign of character to do something because you want to, not because you have to."

It seems rather apropos that Charlie would give the speech the year that Gretchen graduated. He was mentioned in the lyrics of her first hit, "Redneck Woman."

Country music singer Gretchen Wilson has officially graduated from high school after passing the GED in April.

Wilson, who dropped out in ninth grade, passed her General Educational Development exam in April and will walk across the stage during a May 15 graduation ceremony.

Wilson's first radio single, "Redneck Woman," spent five weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and it earned her a 2005 Grammy. Her debut album sold 4.5 million copies.