Gretchen Wilson wants to bury a hatchet this Mother's Day. The singer hasn't spoken with her mother in several years, but hopes to change that on Sunday.

Gretchen's mom was only 16 when she gave birth to the future country star. Gretchen has described her upbringing as tumultuous, as she and her mom moved from trailer park to trailer park, living in poverty. According to the Associated Press, she has said that her mother often abused drugs and alcohol, as a means of numbing the pain of an abusive relationship.

Gretchen Wilson took the mic before a very different type of audience this week. The country star, who proudly earned her GED last year after a 20-year hiatus from school, traveled to Washington, D.C., to testify in a hearing before the Subcommittee on Higher Education. Gretchen used the opportunity to detail her own personal struggle to support herself without an education. She also spoke of the positive turn her life has taken since receiving her GED.

"I'm definitely walking around with a little more sense of pride than I've ever had, because I'm not a part of that statistic anymore," she testified, according to Nashville's Tennessean newspaper. "I'm able now to hold jobs out there that I couldn't have before, and I'm able to help my daughter with her homework. It's made huge differences, mostly with my fans. What I've noticed most is when they come backstage and they shake my hand, they tell me I've inspired them or their brother or their mother who have gone back and gotten their education."

"Some people look down on me, but I don't give a rip/I'll stand barefooted in my own front yard with a baby on my hip"

--'Redneck Woman,' Gretchen Wilson (2004)

Get those vocal cords ready! Playstation 2 is set to release a new karaoke game called SingStar Country. Featuring 30 hits songs from such artists as Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts, Kellie Pickler, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Jessica Simpson, Brad Paisley, Gretchen Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry and Alan Jackson, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc (SCEA) is creating this game to bring an authentic music experience, allowing fans to sing along to their favorite artist's music video.

"It's great to be one of the first SingStar Country artists," says Gretchen Wilson. "This game lets me reach out to all country fans in a whole new way, not only giving them the chance to hear my music, but also become a part of it."

'When I Think About Cheatin''
--Gretchen Wilson (2005)

Wandering Words: "When I think about cheatin', I just think about you leavin'."

Wilson may not have done the deed yet, but she's clearly thinking about it. She admits that strangers tempt her, and she let one guy buy her champagne and whisper in her ear before ditching him on the dance floor. Maybe she's never crossed the line, but she likes getting close.

The Black Crowes are up in arms over Gretchen Wilson's new song, 'Work Hard Play Harder,' which is being used in an advertising campaign for the TV show 'Saving Grace.' The rockers are accusing Wilson, Turner Network Television, Wilson's label Sony BMG and publisher J Money Music of copyright infringement. Their legal notice alleges that Wilson and her songwriters have "wrongfully exploited" the Crowes' 1991 hit, 'Jealous Again,' in their new song.

"We find the musical verses of Wilson's song to be such an obvious example of copyright infringement that I expect all parties to reach a relatively quick resolution to avoid litigation," reports Pete Angelus, longtime manager of The Black Crowes.

Fans have voted Gretchen Wilson's version of 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' as their favorite. ESPN's 'Baseball Tonight' commemorated the 100th anniversary of the famous seventh inning stretch song with a Battle of the Bands competition. Nine artists made music videos of their versions of the song that were televised on the show over a two week stretch. The eclectic group of competitors included Candlebox, Reo Speedwagon, John Pizzarelli and Branford Marsalis. But fans voted Gretchen Wilson's country version the winner. Wilson herself is a huge baseball fan.

"My mom had me in the girly stuff first -- ballet and dance classes. But as soon as I was old enough to make my own decisions, I was playing baseball," Wilson told ESPN. "I took after my Uncle Vern. He was an all-star back home."