About Rita Wilson’s Music Career and New Album
It’s been nearly seven years since Rita Wilson dipped her toe into the music pool as a solo artist and now she’s back, making a splash with her new song and album.
Wilson’s new album, Sound of a Woman, was released May 1, marking her first collection of original material since 2019. The actress and singer performed the title track on Today, where she also opened up about what the project—and its name—means to her.
“There’s so many women that are quietly strong, there are women who are using their voices, there are women who are fighting out there for us,” Wilson shared. “And it’s a way to sort of be fully yourself when you’re trying to use your voice.”
Learn about the newly released record and more regarding Wilson’s music career, including how husband Tom Hanks supports her.
About ‘Sound of a Woman’
Sound of a Woman marks Wilson’s first original solo project since 2019’s Halfway to Home, and it may also be her most personal to date. The album explores themes of self-acceptance, aging, womanhood and motherhood. Upon its release, she reflected on the project and how it came together.
“This album started with a question that wouldn’t leave me alone: does anyone actually know what we think or feel?” Wilson wrote in an Instagram post. “As I started writing, something beautiful happened. The women around me, my friends, my mother’s memory, the women I’ve worked with and loved and learned from, they all started showing up in the songs. Because we’d been feeling the same things. Carrying the same weight. Quietly, separately, together.”
Wilson’s music career
After establishing herself as an actress in films like Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002), Wilson began turning her attention to another passion: songwriting. While she found success on screen, she later admitted to feeling somewhat removed from audiences, craving a more direct and personal connection through music.
She made her musical debut in 2012 with AM/FM, an album largely made up of 1960s and 1970s covers. From there, she began collaborating with other songwriters, leading to her 2016 self-titled album, which featured original material and marked a shift toward her own voice as a lyricist.
In 2011, Wilson had launched her own label, Sing It Loud! Records, through which she has continued to produce and release her music. Over the years, she has released five studio albums, including her latest, Sound of a Woman.
How Tom Hanks supports her
Wilson has long had the support of her husband, Tom Hanks, who frequently promotes her music. He has shared her work on social media, once referring to her as “my favorite female singer-songwriter.”
He’s also been a visible presence at her live performances, including the Stagecoach Festival in 2019 and her residency at Café Carlyle, often showing up to cheer her on both onstage and at industry events.
Be sure to stream Rita Wilson’s new record, Sound of a Woman, and follow her throughout her musical journey.
Copyright 2026 A360 Media
This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 5:30 PM.