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Gretchen Wilson Spills the Tea on Past Tussle with Cody Johnson, Weighs in on CMA Awards
Nashville’s own “Redneck Woman,” Gretchen Wilson, is back in the spotlight, not just for her new role on the music competition series The Road, but for some candid confessions. During a recent interview blitz, Wilson dished on a past dust-up with fellow country star Cody Johnson and shared her thoughts on the upcoming CMA Entertainer of the Year award.
It turns out, the two country powerhouses didn’t exactly start off as chummy as they are now. Wilson recounted a rather awkward encounter years ago at a Texas show where both were on the bill. At the time, Wilson was riding high on her career, while Johnson was still building his momentum.
“We didn’t start out too good, me and Cody,” Wilson admitted to Taste of Country Night‘s Evan Paul. “We had to share the stage, and there were little arguments over who was going to get to use the entirety of the stage and stuff.”
However, Wilson quickly clarified that the stage-squabble wasn’t a personal beef between her and Johnson. “It wasn’t he and me personally, it was our people,” the 52-year-old Illinois native explained, adding, “I’m not even sure if he’s aware of that.”
Thankfully, any past stage-side tensions have long since faded. Wilson happily reported that she and Johnson are now on excellent terms.
“We’ve just played a show together recently. I was so glad that he came out and watched my show,” she gushed.
“I got to hang out with him and talk to him for a little while. He didn’t bring it up, so I don’t think he remembers it.
Thank goodness, because it was like, ‘What ignorant stuff to be fighting over, really.’ But, when you’re first coming up, that little bit of stage matters.”
Will Cody Johnson Take Home the CMA Entertainer of the Year? Wilson Weighs In!
Johnson is currently nominated for the coveted CMA Entertainer of the Year award, an honor he’s vying for against host Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and Morgan Wallen. When asked if she believes Johnson has a shot at the top prize, Wilson didn’t hesitate.
“Absolutely! Absolutely!
And, also being said that, I’m really proud of the ladies too.”
Wilson’s pride extends beyond just the nominees, as she shared her broader perspective on women in country music, calling them more “boisterous” than their male counterparts.
Wilson Believes Men Are “Timid” in Country Music
The conversation took an interesting turn when Wilson was asked if “there are too many sissies in country music.” Her response was direct: “Well, I see that more on the male side than the female side, actually.”
“It just seems like more men are timid nowadays than women are,” Wilson reasoned. “Maybe that’s just where we’re at in our world, but it does seem like women are a lot more boisterous than they used to be, unafraid, and they are ready to kick the doors down and make something happen. Men seem to be standing around asking for permission.”
She continued, “I’m not afraid to say it, we’ve kinda squashed the male demographic as a whole. If I had a son, I’d be a little bit afraid right now in today’s world.”
Catch Gretchen Wilson in her role as tour manager on The Road, which premiered on Sunday, October 19. The show follows 12 emerging musicians competing to be opening acts for Keith Urban, who also features in various roles alongside Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan.
The Road airs Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, with next-day streaming available on Paramount+.