Country music artist Gretchen Wilson was clearly touched at the National Guard Youth Foundation ChalleNGe Champions Gala Tuesday night. She spoke briefly about both the program and her own life. Wilson dropped out of school when she was just 15 and got her GED when she was 34 after she was already famous. Although she did not need it, Wilson said she got the certification as an example to her daughter, family and country.
Wilson even said that she was so “enamoured” with the program that she would perform at next year’s gala for free.
The NGYF ChalleNGe program is for high school dropouts ages 16 to 19 and uses military-type tactics and values to help them earn their GEDs. They celebrated their 100,000th graduate at their annual gala at the J.W. Marriott.
This year’s gala was hosted by Karri Turner from CBS’s “JAG” and Kelly Perdew from “The Apprentice.” Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour talked smack throughout the evening about which of their states had the most graduates (Landrieu won).
Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif., also made remarks, with a minor hiccup. “The lessons they learn allow their families to continue to neuter…nurture them,” she said, quickly correcting herself. The audience responded with stifled laughter.
The live auction featured WWE star Kofi Kingston, Indy driver JR Hildebrand, and NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. Keeping it classy, former WWE personality Sgt. Slaughter was there, dressed in his bedazzled hat and camouflage suit coat and vest.
The crowd also enjoyed performances by “One Tree Hill’s” Tyler Hilton, Laura Bryna, “American Idol” winner Kris Allen and gospel singer Kenny Bishop.
Contributed by Erica Redmond
