Grammy-winning country singer Gretchen Wilson appeared in court in Enfield, Connecticut Thursday to answer to charges after she was accused of creating a disturbance at Bradley International Airport last month and settled the case with a donation to charity.
“This has been incredibly trying for me in many ways,” the singer said about the ordeal on Aug. 21.
Wilson, who is known for country hits that include "Redneck Woman," which won her a Best Female Country Vocal Performance Grammy in 2004, and "Here for the Party" was on a flight from Washington, D.C. to Connecticut to perform a private, invitation-only show at Mohegan Sun when the incident happened.
American Airlines did not elaborate on the allegations and said only that two passengers were in an altercation on the flight.
When police interviewed 45-year-old Wilson, of Lebanon, Tennessee, on the jetway, she became belligerent toward the troopers and caused a disturbance, according to a news release from state police. Wilson was arrested on a charge of second-degree breach of peace.
“I’m a person like everyone else and we’ve all had bad days,” Wilson said Thursday. “It’s just that celebrities are kind of targeted when they have one.”
She settled her case with a $500 charitable contribution to the criminal injuries compensation, a court charity.
“Coming to Connecticut for the second time was much better than the first time,” said Wilson, who added that she looks forward to the next time she performs in Connecticut.
She is now asking her fans to direct their attention on a bigger issue – Hurricane Florence, which is threatening parts of the southeastern United States.
“Right now I really think everyone should be concerned about the hurricane, and all of the people that are in the way of that,” Wilson said.
