Gretchen Wilson’s Triumphant Return: Battling Health Challenges and Reigniting Her Career

Gretchen Wilson, the powerhouse vocalist who defined a generation with her unapologetic country anthems, has recently emerged from a period of relative quiet, marking a triumphant return to the spotlight. The "Redneck Woman" singer recently captured the nation’s attention by winning Fox’s "The Masked Singer," a victory that signifies not only her enduring talent but also her resilience in the face of significant personal and health challenges.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Wilson candidly discussed the reasons behind her absence from the public eye. A severe bout with COVID-19 early in the pandemic left her with lasting health complications, including high blood pressure, shortness of breath, and asthma. These conditions significantly impacted her ability to perform and maintain a normal life.

"So, I got COVID. I was one of the very first to get it, and it was a heck of a round," Wilson shared. "It left me with high blood pressure, shortness of breath, asthma – all of which I still have – and it took about two years for me to find the right doctors, cardiologists to get it all sorted, to find the right medicine to get my blood pressure down. I mean, it was pretty severe. It was bad enough that I couldn’t even do light housework without the blood pressure going up to scary levels."

Adding to her health struggles, Wilson also suffered a broken leg that confined her to a wheelchair for eight months. These combined challenges created a significant obstacle to her career, forcing her to take a step back and focus on her well-being.

Wilson revealed that she chose not to publicize her health struggles on social media, preferring to deal with them privately. "I don’t get on my phone and go, ‘Oh, woe is me and look at me and I am so sad, boohoo.’ It’s just not my personality. So I just stayed away, figured it out. Like I said, it took a long time, but I finally got myself into a place where I was like, Okay, I feel like I’m back," she explained.

The opportunity to compete on "The Masked Singer" presented itself as a perfect platform for Wilson to assess her abilities and determine if she was ready to return to the stage. It was a chance to rediscover her passion for performing and reignite her career.

"When they called and asked – to me, it was like the best, I don’t know of a better opportunity for me to go and try to just see ‘What do I have? Do I have it or is it over, you know?’ And it was hard work, but it was so rewarding," Wilson said. "I gotta say that I don’t think I have this kind of pride or this much just, you know, want to if I hadn’t done the show. The show really proved to me that I can still do it, that I need to still be doing it and that I want to still be doing it."

Throughout her time on "The Masked Singer," Wilson relied on her medical tools, including inhalers and beta blockers, to manage her health conditions. She emphasized that her performance on the show was not significantly different from her usual touring gigs. However, she acknowledged that the physical demands of the competition required her to stay well-hydrated.

Now that she is back in the spotlight, Wilson has been collaborating with prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including "Yellowstone" creator Taylor Sheridan, Blake Shelton, and Keith Urban. She expressed interest in potentially appearing in one of Sheridan’s many television shows.

"I don’t know, we talked a little bit, we were working, so obviously we didn’t sit around and just shoot the cr-p. I would like to, pick his brain, who wouldn’t, but we were pretty focused on the project at hand. I have no idea, I think that’s gonna be up to Taylor. He’s got so many different irons in the fire. He’s [got] what, five, 10 different shows going all the time," Wilson said.

Wilson spoke fondly of her experiences working with Shelton and Urban, describing them as contrasting personalities. She praised Shelton’s humor and lightheartedness, while admiring Urban’s talent, dedication, and healthy lifestyle.

"Blake’s just always having a good time. He’s Mr. Funny. I think that if things hadn’t worked out so well for him in this industry, he could have very easily been a comedian," Wilson said. "And Keith is just a lot more serious, but man, what a guy. I mean every time I’m around him, I’m just like, man, when I grew up, I wanted to be Keith Urban. He’s brilliant. He’s so talented. He played every night. He played every on this other show that I did and just aces every night, perfect voice, so healthy. Takes care of himself. Yeah, I want to be like that. You know, I told him, I said, ‘You make me want to be a better me, Keith, you really do.’ And then I looked at Blake and said, ‘Yeah, not so much you,’" Wilson added with a laugh.

Brian Kelley, formerly of Florida Georgia Line, also participated in "The Masked Singer" and shared his positive experience. He described the show as a creative and liberating experience that helped him reconnect with his authentic self.

"[I] had an absolute blast, man. It was a good time. It was wild. It was challenging. It was just fun, man, it was such a different experience than anything I’ve ever done. And I’m really glad I did it. Like it was, it was freeing. Creatively, I kind of felt like I recalibrated my whole system and my whole mindset," Kelley said. "Going into it, I knew it was gonna be fun and wacky and wild and just like a good time and theatrical and just wild production and stuff. But I didn’t know that I was gonna leave with just a different headspace, man. I just felt like I was able to double down on just being myself and going forward not worrying about anything, man, and it was so good for me. It was just like. In that mask, in that suit, and just like, ‘Hey, let it rip, have fun.’ Singing all sorts of songs, different genres, and just singing like here’s my take on how I would do that song or how I’d do this song and just be myself."

Gretchen Wilson’s journey back to the spotlight is a testament to her unwavering spirit and her commitment to her craft. Her victory on "The Masked Singer" marks a new chapter in her career, one filled with renewed passion, creative collaborations, and a deep appreciation for the power of music. With her health concerns under control and her drive revitalized, Gretchen Wilson is poised to reclaim her place as a leading voice in country music.