Introduction
Gretchen Wilson and the Hotel Encanto Incident: A Second Run-In with the Law
For the second time in just over a year, country music star Gretchen Wilson has found herself at the center of a police investigation. Following a previous high-profile arrest in 2018, news broke that law enforcement was called on the “Redneck Woman” singer during the early hours of October 13th at a hotel in New Mexico. However, unlike her previous encounter, this latest incident ended without a mugshot or formal charges, though it has certainly sparked a fresh round of controversy.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:30 AM at the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces. Wilson had been in town to perform at the Las Cruces Country Music Festival and was reportedly winding down after her set when the situation escalated. According to reports from news station KVIA in El Paso, hotel management made a 911 call to dispatchers requesting assistance with the singer.
During the recorded 911 call, a hotel manager informed dispatchers that Wilson was being uncooperative. The manager claimed that Wilson told staff, “I paid for the room, I could care less what people think”. While the exact nature of the initial dispute remains somewhat vague, police eventually responded to the scene. Ultimately, Wilson left the premises on her own accord, avoiding any formal arrest or legal processing.
In an effort to get ahead of the narrative, Wilson took to social media almost immediately. In a series of three tweets sent the morning after the incident, she urged her followers to boycott the Hotel Encanto. Her grievances weren’t just about the police being called; she also cited incredibly slow service at breakfast. Defending her character, she tweeted, “I know who I am and I know my truth and so does God”.
This confrontation comes only 14 months after Wilson’s August 2018 arrest at an airport in Connecticut. That incident was initially reported as a physical and verbal altercation over a dynamic involving an airplane bathroom. However, Wilson later clarified to Taste of Country that those reports were false and that the conflict was actually an “exchange of words” between herself and the State Police.
While the New Mexico incident did not result in criminal charges, it highlights a recurring pattern of friction between the singer and authorities. By speaking out early on Twitter, Wilson has ensured her side of the story is heard first, even as representatives for the hotel and the singer decline further detailed comments. For now, it seems the “Redneck Woman” is standing by her “truth,” even if it means finding a new place to stay the next time she is in Las Cruces.