Gretchen Wilson is bringing 'Here for the Party' back as a star-studded duets album

More than 20 years after Here for the Party introduced Gretchen Wilson to country music fans around the world, the singer is preparing to revisit her landmark record in a whole new way.

Gretchen has revealed she's re-recording her breakthrough 2004 album as a collaborative project, with each track featuring a special guest from across the country music world.

The upcoming release will celebrate the album that changed her life while also giving a new generation of listeners a fresh take on some of her biggest songs.

“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.

The original album helped establish Gretchen as one of the defining voices of country music in the 2000s. It topped the US country albums chart and produced several fan favourites, including Redneck Woman, Here for the Party and When I Think About Cheatin’.

Rather than simply remastering those songs, Gretchen is choosing to reimagine them alongside artists who have helped shape the genre across different generations.

Among the names expected to appear on the project are Ella Langley, Cody Johnson, Tanya Tucker, Miranda Lambert, Travis Tritt and Ashley McBryde.

Some song pairings have already been revealed. Cody is set to join Gretchen on a new version of When I Think About Cheatin’, while Tanya will lend her voice to Redneck Woman, one of the most recognisable country hits of the past two decades.

Interest in the album has already been building after Gretchen recently shared the stage with Ella Langley during CMA Fest. The pair performed Here for the Party together, giving fans an early glimpse of what's to come.

While fans will have to wait a little longer to hear the finished collection, Gretchen confirmed the project is well underway through her independent label, Redneck Records.

So far, no official release date has been announced.

Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about concert announcements, exclusive competitions, free tickets, a round-up of the latest country news, and more!

Hear all of your favourite country artists on iHeartCountry NZ by using the player below.