Bankrate: At this point in life, do you feel financially secure?
Gretchen Wilson: It's really strange, but not yet. I really don't yet. I think a lot of people probably feel entertainers make a lot more money than they really do. I think people forget how much money it costs to be the company that Gretchen Wilson is. I have 30 employees under me, all on payroll. I offer medical insurance to each of them so it's like a whole business. There's a lot of overhead that comes out. I take care of my family. As far as charities go, I'm involved in it as much as I can be but I'm one of those old-fashioned people where charity starts at home, so my family has been my first priority over the last couple of years. They were all in the same mess that I was, so getting them all moved to Tennessee and helping them build their dream homes and getting them set up with jobs so they'll feel secure for the rest of their lives.
Bankrate: What was your first big splurge?
Gretchen Wilson: My first big splurge was about four years ago on the down payment on my house that I live in now. It's the first piece of property that I ever owned -- the first anything I ever owned. I didn't even own a vehicle or mobile home. I was always renting or making payments. When I bought my home, it was a 3,500-square-foot house on 15 acres; now I've got 400 acres.
Bankrate:
Have you had to learn financial lessons the hard
way?
Gretchen Wilson: I don't think I've really learned a financial lesson yet. I'm not one of those fly-by-night, big-spender kind of entertainers. I'm not a miser either. I don't really waste money on anything, I don't feel. I've never just hopped on a jet to go on vacation to some island or anything. I've been pretty careful with my money and investments.
Bankrate: How much luck, how much talent and how much faith do you think has gone into your successful career and life?
Gretchen Wilson: I would have to say it's almost equal parts. I can sit here and name off people who are pumping gas right now just a few blocks from here who are just as talented as I am, but they're never going to have that opportunity because they're never going to get that lucky. And a lot of that luck you have to go after -- you can't be passive in this industry. I got every door in Nashville slammed in my face before I actually found that right record company that was willing to take a chance and to believe in me. So a lot of that luck comes with determination and a lot of hard work. And faith ... I always had that and I always knew singing was my destiny.
Bankrate: "One of the Boys" was your third album -- are you working on anything else right now?
Gretchen Wilson: I tour pretty much all year. It seems like I never stop. I've got the "Monday Night Football" that I just recorded with Hank (Williams) Jr. that is getting ready to come out. I'm getting ready to get my head back into songwriting and thinking about what the next record is going to be.
Bankrate: What is it going to be about -- what's your next phase in life?
Gretchen Wilson: I have no idea, but for the first time in my life I'm looking forward to finding out.
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