Gretchen Wilson gets GED at 34

NASHVILLE, May 4 (UPI) -- Country singer Gretchen Wilson says she's proud she has passed the General Educational Development exam to complete her high school education.

The 34-year-old "Redneck Woman" star said she did not want to remain part of the 20 percent of adult Tennessee natives who do not have a high school diploma, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Sunday.

Wilson said an added influence for her to complete her high school education was her 7-year-old daughter, Grace.

"I don't want to be the dummy that says, 'I don't know how to do that,'" Wilson said. "And I certainly don't want her to think you can be this successful without an education."

Wilson dropped out of school while in the ninth grade and went on to country music stardom. But the single mother said despite her musical accomplishments, finalizing her education by passing the equivalency test in April was a source of pride.

"It's something that I should have done a long time ago and now I can file it away, you know," Wilson told The Tennessean. "I'm just walking a little taller."