"Gretchen Goes to Nebraska" is the second studio album by American rock band King's X. It is a concept album based on a short story written by drummer Jerry Gaskill. The album received strong critical praise and fan support, and it is considered one of the best works of King's X as well as a seminal record within the progressive metal genre.
Characteristic of the band's early material, Gretchen Goes to Nebraska features various lyrical Christian themes in tracks such as "Over My Head" but also criticism of televangelism in "Mission". It further questions religion with reference to the burning of Giordano Bruno in "Pleiades". Musically, the album covers various styles; it emphasizes tight melodies and grooves while incorporating elements of gospel and psychedelia.
When asked about the truth behind the album's title, drummer Jerry Gaskill responded in a 1990 interview:
"It actually started as a joke. Six or seven years ago we were unloading the truck, and we were throwing out these silly album titles and one of our roadies just came out with that off the top of his head. So we just said 'Yeah, someday we're going to call an album that'. We just saw him on our last tour, and we told him, 'we named the album because you said that'; he didn't even remember it."
