Gretchen Wilson Re-Recording ‘Here For The Party’ As A Duets Album With Ella Langley, Cody Johnson & More

Gretchen Wilson is giving one of the most iconic albums of the 2000s a fresh new twist.

Ahead of her CMA Fest performance at Nissan Stadium, Wilson caught up with Country Now backstage and revealed that she is re-recording her breakthrough debut album, Here for the Party, with an all-star lineup of duet partners.

“I decided to rerecord the first album and do it all as duets, every song on there, except for ‘Pocahontas Proud.’ That’s the final track on there because that one’s a little too personal. I couldn’t imagine asking someone else to sing that they’re from Pocahontas when I don’t even really want to sing that,” she shared.

When it comes to collaborators, Wilson has recruited some of country music’s biggest names.

“I’ve got a big lineup of different people. I think I’ve got Travis Tritt on Holding You. I’ve got Ashley McBryde on one. I’ve got Miranda Lambert singing with me on one. Ella’s going to be on one…Cody Johnson,” she revealed.

Originally released in May 2004, Here for the Party launched Wilson into country music stardom and produced fan-favorite hits including the title track, “When I Think About Cheatin’,” and her signature anthem, “Redneck Woman.”

Now, revisiting the songs with duet partners has given Wilson a whole new appreciation for the project.

“And some of these songs now, doing them in a duet form. I don’t know how we didn’t think of this years ago. They were almost written to be duets.”

In addition to the reimagined album, Wilson is also working on new music. Her latest release, “Redneck Shit,” is already generating buzz, and she says fans can expect a mix of fresh material and duets in the months ahead.

“I’m kind of working on that and I’m simultaneously working on new music too. We’re trying to balance it out and maybe like come with one of the duets and then something new and then a duet,” she explained. “So once we get to a certain point, then we’ll probably drop the whole thing.”

As for her next full-length project, the GRAMMY winner says she has a “best song wins” mentality. 

“I can tell you that I’m listening to a lot of songs that I’m writing and even as a songwriter though, best song wins. I’m not one of those that has to write it. If somebody beats me, I’ll take that. So I’m listening to a lot. I got a lot of great songwriter friends and so they’re sending me a lot of stuff and just trying to narrow down what’s next.”

Fans can catch Gretchen Wilson on CMA Fest presented by SoFi, hosted by Riley Green and Lara Spencer of Good Morning America.

The three-hour concert special airs Thursday, June 25, at 8/7c on ABC and will be available to stream the following day on Hulu.

Bailey Zimmerman, Blake Shelton, The Band Perry, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson, Deana Carter, Ella Langley, Fetty Wap, Florida Georgia Line, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Jelly Roll, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Luke Bryan, Michael McDonald, Molly Tuttle, The Red Clay Strays, Ricky Skaggs, Riley Green, Russell Dickerson, Shaboozey, Shay Morgan, Stephen Wilson Jr., Tim McGraw, Tucker Wetmore, and Zach Top will also perform.