Rita Wilson creates conversations with ’70s-era duets

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When Rita Wilson was young, her mother encouraged her to think about lyrics from new perspectives. The actor and singer-songwriter brought that idea to her new album, “Rita Wilson Now & Forever: Duets,” in which she and her collaborators reinterpret ’70s-era songs, mostly ones not originally recorded as duets. She worked with Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Keith Urban, Jackson Browne and many more for the album. Wilson said she and her co-producer looked for great songs that could sound like a conversation between two people. She says making music lets her ”stay in that creative conversation and in a very connected way.”