It was released on October 26, 2009, as the lead single from her fourth studio album, I Got Your Country Right Here (2010), and first to be issued under Wilson's own label, Redneck Records.

It reached a peak of number 18 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, becoming Wilson's highest-charting single since "All Jacked Up" in 2005.

[5] The group's manager, Pete Angelus, said he found the verses to be "such an obvious example of copyright infringement" and that he expected all parties to reach a "relatively quick resolution to avoid litigation.

[10] Leeann Ward of Country Universe gave the song a B− rating, describing its theme and production as an "inferior carbon copy" of her debut single "Redneck Woman."

[11] "Work Hard, Play Harder" debuted on the US Hot Country Songs chart the week of November 14, 2009, at number 56.