Tom Hanks’ Wife Rita Wilson Pays Tribute to Patsy Cline & Announces New Album
Tom Hanks‘ wife, Rita Wilson, is not only an actor but also a singer-songwriter. She recently opened up about her most recent albums, her connection to Patsy Cline and how she transitioned to singing more gospel songs.
Wilson has worked with iconic songwriter Josh Alexander for a while, more specifically on the single “Look How Far We’ve Come.” She shared about the song: “It could be about a relationship with yourself. It could be the relationship with your art, career, or a friend. It’s really about any struggle that you have with somebody or something you love. And it’s not necessarily a struggle, but just the ups and downs of it. It’s never perfectly straight and beautiful.”
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This year, she felt more called to sing gospel music and joined Mark D. Conklin on the song “Through the Storm” from his 2024 album. She said about the transition: “Elvis [Presley] exposed me to gospel music. I never thought I’d be part of a gospel album. I’m so grateful and so thankful. I’m the biggest sponge that takes in everything that I possibly can take in from all these extraordinary people I’ve been able to create with.”
Another one of her inspirations was Patsy Cline. In November, she paid tribute to Cline for the PBS special, Great Performances – Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight,which was filmed at the historic Ryman Auditorium, and performed her 1962 hit song “She’s Got You.” Wilson said that she listened to Cline a lot growing up as she was featured on the AM radio. “Growing up, we didn’t have genres,” says Wilson. “We had AM radio and everything was on there. Patsy Cline was on there.”
Wilson added that she has written a new album, which will be recorded in 2025, so stay tuned for that!
Remind 
Queens of Country
November 2019
Get your toes-tapping as we give a nod to the queens of classic country music.
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